MANILA, Philippines — Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Tuesday denied reports he engaged in a “shouting match” with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, amid a diplomatic row between the Philippines and Kuwait triggered by reported abuse of Filipino domestic workers. “I supported the position of DFA [Secretary] Alan. In fact, my statement was that if I were in the shoes of Secretary Alan, I would have done the same thing,” said the country’s Labor chief, who was seated beside Cayetano during the event. Villa had reportedly said the embassy decided to help maltreated Filipinos should Kuwaiti authorities fail to respond within 24 hours. The World Bank early this week reported that the Philippines is the third largest remittance receiving nation in the world in 2017, helping drive the increase in domestic spending which, in turn, fuel overall economic growth.

Source: Philippine Star May 01, 2018 02:48 UTC