Press Statement

Source Verification:
Ramon Bultron
Managing Director
Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
Contact No. (852)94773141

Migrante Kuwait Coordinator Unjustly Terminated,
Did the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait Have a Hand in This? 

Did the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait have a hand in the sudden unjust termination of Migrante Kuwait 's Coordinator on September 4? Gil Lebria had been consistently assisting many OFW's in need, a number of which came out in the Philippine and Kuwait media that earned the ire of the Embassy.

It is puzzling why his company, Kharafi National gave no valid reason in terminating him considering that his pay was recently increased by KD50 (US$188) a month. Why was there also haste in his scheduled repatriation which was to be on the same night of his dismissal? He was told by management he was being terminated because of an external problem. At the same time, his termination is illegal under Kuwait 's labor law as there was no prior notice before this.

As early as last year Gil was informed by his Philippine placement agency, Globus Manpower Agency that the POEA allegedly wanted him to be repatriated back to the Philippines . Gil's name was seen in the list of complainants against his company then on a number of legitimate grievances which came from the Embassy's Labor Attaché. This was subsequently denied by the said Philippine official.

However on July 27 this year, Mr. Lebria reported he received corrupted messages in his computer and threatening text messages from unknown persons. Earlier on July 10, Ambassador Endaya publicly stated in Arab Times that he was spiteful of Migrante Kuwait for distorting the truth and putting the Embassy in a bad light for exposing his post's foot dragging on 40 OFW cleaners from National Cleaning Company.

This was followed by an accusation by the Philippine Embassy in Al Watan newspaper on Aug. 7 that Mr. Lebria and Migrante were fabricating stories on an attempted rape on an OFW and all other cases. In a veiled threat consul Oreta stated that Migrante should be asked for a clarification and explanation on this and that they had sent a full detailed report of its investigation to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on the incident.

May we know what the reactions of the DFA and DOLE on this so called fabrication? Was there really outside pressure that prompted Kharafi National to dismiss Gil after raising his salary? Who is this outside pressure? Who would be interested in getting rid of Mr. Lebria who is sincere in assisting his fellow OFWs and vigilant in checking the Embassy's indifference to the plight of its nationals in Kuwait and at the same time not remiss in his paid work?

If not what the Embassy should do is to assist Gil in his case against illegal dismissal by Kharafi National and that he be allowed to stay and find another employer in Kuwait. He should be allowed to continue advocating for his fellow OFWs rights and to provide sustenance for his family back home.