21 November 2003 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople directed Undersecretary Rafael Seguis to immediately proceed to Kuwait and work with the Philippine Embassy and Kuwaiti authorities in bringing the perpetrators of sexual crimes against four Filipinas to justice.

Undersecretary Seguis was also tasked by the Department of Foreign Affairs to seriously assess the situation in Kuwait in terms of the protection of rights of OFWs. He was also instructed to check whether embassy officials acted swiftly in extending all assistance to the rape victims.

Based on reports from the Philippine Embassy, a Filipina was raped by three Kuwaiti policemen on November 14. The victim is currently under the care of the Filipino Women’s Resource Center in the Philippine Embassy. In a separate and much earlier incident, two Filipino women were abducted and raped by men armed with knives.

"Cases have been filed in court against the perpetrators of these sexual crimes. We respect the decision of the victims to keep their identities and the details of the crime private," Secretary Ople said.

Ople summoned the Kuwait Charge D’ Affaires to the Department of Foreign Affairs last Wednesday so that he could personally convey to the Kuwaiti diplomat the deep concern of the Philippine government over these cases. "I received his assurance that his government will promptly look into these cases," Ople said.

The Secretary said his department is closely coordinating with the Department of Labor and Employment in extending assistance to the rape victims and ensuring the general welfare of OFWs in Kuwait.

"The Philippine government is fully committed to the pursuit of justice on behalf of the victims of these heinous crimes," Secretary Ople said.

"I would like to reiterate my sense of outrage over these crimes and pledge to do all we can to defend their honor, to protect their welfare and security, and to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice," the Foreign Affairs Secretary stressed. END.