The government yesterday assured it is extending the necessary assistance to Filipinos who were arrested in Qatar for allegedly taking part in an unauthorized public demonstration.
In a statement, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it is “closely in touch” with Qatari authorities to monitor the case and ensure the welfare of the detained Filipinos.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac assured the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) of the department’s full assistance.
“We assure you that we are continuing to serve and assist, under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., to ensure the welfare and future of our OFWs and their families,” Cacdac said in Filipino.
Cacdac reminded all OFWs to conform to the laws and customs of their host countries, particularly concerning the expression of political views, to avoid similar incidents
For its part, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) clarified that 20 Filipinos were arrested for holding a political demonstration in Qatar, and not 17 as previously reported, but one has been freed.
“According to our ambassador in Doha, Qatar, Ambassador Mardomel Celo Melicor, it was 20, then one was released. We were allowed to talk to them. We are trying to get them released,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said on Sunday.
He assured that if charges are filed against them, the Philippine Embassy in Qatar will extend legal assistance since their alleged offense carries a punishment of three years imprisonment.
It was further revealed that the detained Filipinos were transported to a police station about an hour away from Doha after joining a rally supporting former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The DMW, in coordination with the DFA and the Philippine Embassy in Doha, has deployed its Labor Attaché to the police station to provide all the necessary assistance to the affected OFWs.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said that around 60,000 Filipinos joined in across the Philippines in protests and organized prayer rallies for former president Rodrigo Duterte’s 80th birthday.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said that they monitored about 200 rallies nationwide on the occasion of the 80th birthday of the former President.
Mr. Duterte turned 80 last Friday while detained at the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, Netherlands.
“The activities were smooth and peaceful in general. It ended without any untoward incident being recorded,” Fajardo said.
