Duterte Thanks CEB, PAL for Repatriating OFWs in Kuwait

President Rodrigo Durterte expressed his gratitude toward Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific (CebPac) for providing aid to the government by repatriating distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Kuwait.

On Tuesday, Pres. Duterte welcomed a batch of 127 OFWs from Kuwait at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.

“I’d like to say to Mr. Lucio Tan and the Gokongwei family, Lance. In behalf of our countrymen, thank you and I will remember you for all time,” Duterte said in his speech.

Aside from helping repatriate the OFWs, Duterte also expressed appreciation to Tan, chairman and chief executive officer of PAL, for donating PHP2 million for government soldiers during the five-month Marawi conflict last year.

“Lucio Tan, you’re paid already. On several occasions, you gave a lot of help, in Marawi. I really appreciate you and your family,” Duterte said.

Duterte promised that Tan will no longer hear tirades from him.

“Don’t you worry, no more harassment from my government whether we are allies or not in politics. Just do the right thing and I will do the right thing and we will be all right,” he said.

Last year, Duterte hurled rants against the Filipino-Chinese tycoon for not paying PHP6 billion worth of accumulated navigational fees and other charges which PAL had eventually settled with the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Duterte said he received another phone call from Tan last Monday informing him that PAL will provide another plane to repatriate more Filipinos from Kuwait.

The 127 repatriated OFWs were among those who availed of amnesty granted by the Kuwaiti government.

Last week, Duterte ordered total ban on the deployment of Filipino workers in Kuwait amid reports of maltreatment and abuses committed against Filipinos including a migrant Filipina worker whose body was found in a freezer.

Duterte also directed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to bring home distressed OFWs from Kuwait within 72 hours.

Duterte assured the returning OFWs of government’s financial and livelihood assistance.

“Welcome home. I’m happy that you returned home alive and in good spirits,” he told the Filipino workers.

The President, assisted by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello, led the ceremonial distribution of PHP5,000 emergency cash assistance to each of the OFWs.

DOLE said more than 2,200 OFWs from Kuwait wanted to go home. There are 250,000 Filipinos in Kuwait.

Source: PNA

 

(Source: FilipinoTimes.net)

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