Statement of the Department of Foreign Affairs on the Series of Malicious Articles by Philippine Star Reporter Pia Lee-Brago

03 May 2018 - For the third straight day, the Philippine Star has published inaccurate and malicious information when it claimed that the Kuwaiti Government deliberately cut off the electric and water supply in the official residence of Ambassador Renato O. Villa last week.

It is unfortunate that a respected publication like the Philippine Star appears so open to manipulation.
As in their story on May 1 on the fictitious "shouting match" between Secretary Cayetano and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Star Reporter Pia Lee Brago wanted us to believe the next day that the career corps is up in arms against the Secretary on the basis of a supposed letter shared to her by her sources.

Today, Ms. Brago is at it again by accusing the Kuwaiti Government of cutting off utilities at the Ambassador’s residence and forcing him to transfer to the Embassy itself based on information from conveniently unnamed sources.

No less than Ambassador Villa himself has said the power loss was temporary and was restored after three hours and that the water supply was never interrupted and that at no point did he feel unsafe to require him to move to the Embassy.

For someone who has covered the Department for years, Ms. Brago’s lack of due diligence is telling. It appears to be part of a well-orchestrated campaign to undermine the Department’s efforts to protect the rights and promote the welfare of our kababayans overseas.

The Department will not be deterred by these attempts to divert us away from pursuing our mission. We remain focused on our vision to advance the interest of Filipinos overseas. END