Envoy recalled over sex raps

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has recalled Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Shulan Primavera who is facing allegations of sexual harassment.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez yesterday said Primavera was ordered to return to the country.

“He has been instructed to come home immediately to answer the accusation of sexual harassment leveled against him by the woman,” Hernandez said.

A housemaid in the Philippine embassy in Kuwait had accused Primavera of sexual harassment.

“We want to give due course to the accusation, at the same time ensure that due process of law is observed,” Hernandez added.

The probe to be conducted on the complaint against Primavera will be governed by Republic Act 7157, or the Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991, which covers the envoy to Kuwait, Hernandez earlier said. 

Hernandez stressed that RA 7157 mandates that “for the DFA to investigate an ambassador, an express written instruction from the President is needed.”  Reynaldo Robles, counsel of the Filipino household helper whom Primavera allegedly sexually harassed, said they are studying the filing of other criminal cases against the diplomat.

Robles said aside from sexual harassment, Primavera could also be charged with trafficking and forced labor after he allegedly took household workers from the government-run welfare center in Kuwait and the envoy had not paid them the right wages.

“There was a time when Mabel (the maid) expressed her intention to go back to the welfare center, but the diplomat discouraged her and such action can also be considered as forced labor,” Robles explained.

He said they initially filed an administrative complaint against Primavera.

“We asked Mabel what’s her purpose and she said she would not want other OFWs to experience what she did under Ambassador Primavera, so we just pursued at the moment an administrative case,” Robles pointed out. 

Based on her complaint, the maid claimed the diplomat sexually harassed her three times.

“The first instance was when the diplomat touched her waist while telling her not to be afraid of him because he is no longer capable of having sex,” Robles revealed.

There was also an instance when the diplomat kissed the young maid’s lips and breast and continued with his sexually-laced conversation.

He also slept in the maid’s room and tried to convince Mabel to sleep beside him, but she refused.

The last instance was in September when the diplomat urged her to do oral sex on him.        

“Since the ambassador is a political appointee, Malacañang has the authority to discipline him so DFA needs to obtain the go signal of the Palace prior to conducting the investigation,” Robles said. With Mayen Jaymalin