Brief as it was, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s
visit to Kuwait Sunday further strengthened the economic, diplomatic and
security relations between the Philippines and the oil-rich Middle East
country, host of 100,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
In her message before the Filipino community in Kuwait last night, the
President said Kuwait is a true friend of the Philippines as she lauded
Kuwait’s vital role in the quest for permanent peace in Mindanao.
“I came to Kuwait to strengthen our diplomatic relations with Kuwait, “ she
said in Filipino.
The President had earlier planned to stay in Kuwait for four hours only to
personally plead to Kuwaiti officials led by the Emir Sheik Sabah Al Ahmad
Al Sabah to spare the life of Marilou Ranario, an OFW sentenced to death by
hanging for the killing of her Kuwaiti woman employer over maltreatment and
salary disputes.
She graciously accepted, however, the invitation of the Emir for her and her
official delegation to stay overnight in Kuwait City.
The Emir has commuted to life imprisonment the death by hanging sentence for
Ranario.Underscoring the key role of
national security in achieving economic progress, she said the Philippines’
strong diplomatic and security relations “strengthen our national security.”
“One pillar of national security is a strong economy---more investments,
more new jobs in all the provinces, that is why we are working so hard to
lure more investors to pour in their money in the Philippines,” she said.
(full
story) released 10 Dec 2007 |
