Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda PHOTO/INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang has been formally notified of the sexual molestation charge brought against Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Shulan Primavera, but has yet to give the Department of Foreign Affairs the green light to proceed with a formal administrative investigation.
In a text message, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda confirmed that Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario has sought Malacañang’s clearance to investigate Primavera on charges the ambassador sexually molested his maid.
“It was sent to the Office of the Executive Secretary yesterday [Friday]. I will know by Monday if the request has been forwarded to the President,” Lacierda said, referring to the DFA letter seeking the President’s approval for an investigation of Primavera, who was appointed to the Kuwait mission by President Benigno Aquino III in June 2010.
The Philippine Foreign Service Act stipulates that any chief of mission or ambassador appointed by the President could be investigated only after the Chief Executive has approved such action in writing.
“Once we have received an order from the President, the DFA will undertake or conduct an investigation on the case, specifically on the allegations of harassment leveled against him,” said DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez in an interview Friday.
Sought for comment Saturday, Lacierda said, “I spoke to Secretary del Rosario this morning, and he confirmed that the Foreign Service Law requires that when it concerns presidential appointees.”
By late Saturday afternoon Lacierda had not received a formal directive from either President Aquino or Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa to proceed with the investigation.
Del Rosario has recalled the Philippine ambassador to Kuwait, asking him to come home “as soon as possible,” after news broke out that a 28-year-old Filipino overseas worker had accused the 63-year-old Primavera of sexual harassment.
The complainant was reportedly a runaway who sought shelter in the embassy but had been working at the ambassador’s residence for the past eight months.
In a radio interview, Primavera denied the accusations and called the woman “a liar.” He said the accusations were part of a “demolition job” by another ambassador who had ill-feelings towards him.