MANILA – Sixteen Filipinos remain in police custody in Qatar after participating in an alleged unauthorized political rally, with authorities warning they could face up to three years in detention, according to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega.
Three teenagers who joined the demonstration have been released, but the Philippine government continues to monitor the situation. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) assured that it is coordinating with Qatari authorities to provide assistance and safeguard the welfare of the detained overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The arrests followed a series of rallies worldwide on March 28, organized by supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte to celebrate his 80th birthday and protest his detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC) facility in The Hague.
Qatar’s Law No. 18 of 2004 prohibits public gatherings and protests without prior government approval, making such demonstrations illegal. Violators face legal consequences, including possible imprisonment.
In response, the DMW, along with the DFA and the Philippine Embassy in Doha, has deployed Labor Attaché Eduard Ferrer, a lawyer, to assist the detained Filipinos.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac reminded all OFWs to respect the laws and customs of their host countries to avoid legal repercussions.
