The authorities in Kuwait summoned Philippine Ambassador Renato Pedro Villa, for the second time in two days, over "outrageous" statements he had made to a local newspaper.
"Renato's comments and the behaviour of the Philippine Embassy's diplomatic staff violate Kuwait's hospitality," said the source from the Foreign Ministry, according to Kuwait Times.
Videos showing embassy personnel helping Filipino maids escape from their sponsors' houses in vehicles with diplomatic licence plates prompted the ministry to summon Villa.
The Philippine envoy had confirmed to Al Jarida daily that the videos, which were posted on social media, are genuine, admitting that the embassy’s staff had been "helping" maids flee their employers' houses for over a month.
The Philippines Embassy then held an urgent press conference and strongly denied allegations and reports that it was acting alone in rescuing Filipinos in need of assistance in Kuwait.
The Philippine ambassador claimed that the statements which were attributed to him had been misquoted and misconstrued.
The ministry summoned Villa last Friday and handed two notes in protest of "offending remarks made by Filipino officials and the misconduct on the part of the Philippines' diplomatic staff in the state in breach of violation of diplomatic norms".
Villa had told Al Jarida newspaper that the team from the embassy intervenes to help Filipina maids "if no action is taken 24 hours after informing the interior ministry".
He revealed that a seven-member team also intervened in urgent cases that couldn’t wait to contact Kuwait’s interior and foreign ministries.
Al Rai daily reported yesterday the rescue team waits for the domestic helper outside the employer's home and then drives her either to the embassy or to hospital if needed.
The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the that the Embassy in Kuwait, together with an augmentation team from the home office, helped 200 Filipinos over the past two weeks.
On Thursday, the Philippine Star daily reported that rescue teams went as far as knocking on doors to find Filipino domestic helpers who have cried out for help.
The DFA said that "26 Filipino workers have been rescued since April 7" and released a video that showed how two operations were carried out.
Meanwhile, Kuwaiti authorities have identified and tracked down three suspects who are believed to have helped a housemaid escape from her sponsor’s home.
The three suspects and the housemaid, all Filipino nationals, have been tracked down, read a statement by the Kuwaiti interior ministry yesterday.
(with inputs from Al Rai and Al Anba)