KUWAIT: In the aftermath of the two brutal murders of Filipinas in Kuwait last month, the Philippines Embassy assured Kuwait that no ban will be imposed on the employment of Filipino domestic helpers in the country. In an exclusive interview with the Kuwait Times yesterday, the Philippine Vice Consul Rea Oreta asserted that until now, there have been no directives [as yet] issued from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on placing a ban on Filipino domestic helpers in Kuwait. Several human rights groups and individuals have been calling for a ban of deploying domestic helpers in Kuwait. Oreta explained that a ban is not the only solution to the problem that Filipinos from several sectors have been facing in the country.

We would like to reiterate that no discussions have been held in the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila on the ban," she said. In her words, a ban is not the only solution. She argued that there are other options available which the Philippine government will explore and study before imposing a ban. "I am sure that a ban will be the last option. Besides, even if the decision [to ban domestic helpers] is approved, Filipinos will still be able to enter Kuwait through other channels. So, I think the ban
is not on the table right now as we believe it was not the only solution. It would probably be the last," she mentioned.

The two murder cases shocked the entire country and the Filipino community in Kuwait. In-mid July, Asria Samad Abdul, 34, [housemaid] was allegedly tortured by her employer on a daily basis before being run over several times with a car to death in Kabd. Norhaisa Nasa Andao - a 32-year-old Filipina employee at a beauty salon - was stabbed to death 31 times before her horrified colleagues at her worksite in Jabriya. The murder cases took place on the same day but at separate locations.

The suspects, in both cases, are now under police custody in Kuwait. Once the final forensic reports and medical reports are obtained, their cases will be heard in the Court of First Instance. Yesterday, Attorney Sheikha Fawzia Al-Sabah met with Oreta at the embassy in Jabriya to formally accept the DFA [approval] decision which retains her law firm as the embassy's representative to help resolve the two murder cases.

In Sheikha Al-Sabah's words, all efforts will be exerted towards resolving the two murder cases. She said, "I'll do my best to help resolve these two cases. My heart goes out to the family of the victims. I presented myself [to be their lawyer] so as to help the victims' families. I studied the cases carefully. For us, we have the due advantage of winning these cases easily," she said. Atty Al-Sabah added that she would do all she can to resolve the two cases as soon as possible.

When asked why the embassy had retained the services of Sheikha Fawzia Al-Sabah Law Firm, Oreta stressed that it was based on her tract records and the fact that Fawzia Al-Sabah herself is an advocate and the champion of human rights issues in Kuwait. "She's been representing our countrymen without ever mentioning that she was behind the victory [of their cases]. Besides, the name Sheikha Fawzia Al-Sabah is an advantage. We have high regard for her law firm. I am sure that she will deliver her promise, in cluding the speedy trial and resolution of these two particular murder cases soon," she concluded. - Kuwait Times