Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano “still has the full trust and confidence” of President Duterte despite the controversial rescue mission of abused Filipino housemaids in Kuwait that strained relations with the rich Golf state, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday. Roque said that “as far as the Palace [was] concerned, there [was] no reason for [Cayetano] to resign” amid calls for him to step down. “I think he still has the full trust and confidence of the President, and I think what we have in Kuwait is something that can be overcome eventually, sooner or later,” he added. Kuwait considered the incident a violation of its sovereignty and subsequently expelled Philippine Ambassador Renato Pedro Villa. Meanwhile, Roque said his May 7 visit to Kuwait with Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III was still being finalized.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 03, 2018 22:52 UTC