MANILA - The Philippines remains in talks with Kuwait amid a diplomatic squabble following the rescue of Filipino workers in distress in the Gulf State, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Saturday.

This as he asserted that the Philippines' action, which Kuwait took as an affront to its sovereignty, was a "rightful exercise" of government's duty to protect its citizens overseas.

In a statement released in Singapore, Cayetano said discussions with Kuwait continue despite ruffled ties between the two sides, with the Gulf state recently expelling the Filipino envoy there -- a move the foreign office found "deeply disturbing."

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"The Philippines is currently engaged in discussions with Kuwait to address recent concerns arising from our determined efforts to answer the calls for help of a number of our kababayans who are working in Kuwait," said the top diplomat, currently in Singapore for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.

"We remain convinced that the actions we took in Kuwait are a rightful exercise of our duty under international law to protect our nationals abroad. Our actions are consistent both with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations," he said.

Cayetano said the foreign office is looking to President Rodrigo Duterte's policy prioritizing the protection of OFW rights and welfare in pursuing talks with Kuwait.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment have been carrying out this policy by ensuring that we always come to the aid of Filipinos in distress anywhere in the world. The policy — and our resolve to pursue it — will not waver," he said.

He said the Philippines is "committed to find a way" to resolve matters with Kuwait, aiming to strengthen long-standing ties between the two sides "based on what we hope would be a common desire to ensure the well-being of our kababayans there."

He also sought understanding from the media and the public as he requested for "diplomatic space while resolving these pending concerns with Kuwait."

The two countries were finalizing a deal for the protection of Filipino workers in the Gulf State when Kuwait on Wednesday kicked out Philippine Ambassador Renato Pedro Villa, who led the rescue of OFWs seeking help.

On Thursday, the Philippines expressed hopes Kuwait would not turn its back on the deal because of the most recent irritant.

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Earlier this year, Manila imposed a ban on the deployment of workers to Kuwait after a Filipina domestic helper was found dead in a freezer in an abandoned apartment there.

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Over 250,000 Filipinos are working in Kuwait, most of whom are domestic helpers, data from the Philippine government show.