Gov’t extends aid to Du30 ralliers arrested in Qatar
Officials of the Philippine Embassy in Doha are coordinating with authorities in Qatar following the arrest of 20 Filipinos for allegedly participating in an unauthorized political demonstration in support of detained former President Rodrigo Duterte, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said on Sunday.
Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega confirmed to the Inquirer that 20 Filipinos had been arrested in Qatar, with one released over the weekend.
“Embassy officials are at the police stations and are talking to them. Legal counsel will be provided if they are charged,” De Vega said in a Viber message.
Under Qatari law, organizers and participants of gatherings without a permit could face imprisonment of up to three years.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) earlier said that its Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Qatar was closely monitoring the case and ensuring the welfare of the arrested Filipinos, some of whom are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“The DMW, in coordination with the [DFA] and the Philippine Embassy in Doha, sent its labor attaché (also a lawyer) to the police station to provide all necessary assistance to the affected OFWs,” the agency said in a statement on Saturday.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac assured the affected OFWs of the department’s continued support and full assistance.
He also reminded all OFWs to respect the laws and customs of their host countries, particularly regarding public gatherings and political expressions, to prevent similar incidents.
Birthday rallies
Duterte is currently in detention in the Netherlands after the International Criminal Court ordered his arrest for alleged murder as a crime against humanity relating to the thousands of deaths during his administration’s drug war.
As he turned 80 on March 28, his supporters staged rallies here and abroad and clamored for his return.
That same day, the Philippine Embassy in Doha confirmed that several Filipinos had been arrested and detained for “suspected unauthorized political demonstrations” in Qatar.
Overseas Filipino group Migrante Middle East expressed concern over the arrest of the OFWs, urging the Marcos administration to provide urgent legal assistance to the detained workers and avoid politicizing the issue.
“The immediate focus should be on securing the release of those arrested, without any partisan agenda,” the group said in a statement on Saturday.
“While we acknowledge that every individual has the right to express their opinions, even if we may differ in our political beliefs, we emphasize that this should not compromise their safety or jeopardize their employment abroad,” Migrante said on its Facebook page.
While the group clarified that it had a “different political view” from those who were arrested, it urged the administration of President Marcos to provide urgent legal aid and avoid “politicizing the issue, especially in cases involving OFWs who may have supported the Duterte administration.”
It also advised OFWs of the “critical importance of thoroughly studying the laws and regulations of their respective host nations, exercising safety in all expressions of opinion.”
The group also urged Filipino migrant workers to critically examine political issues back home, saying it was time to “stop idolizing political leaders, particularly those from political dynasties, who abandon their campaign promises and duties once elected.”
Government protection
Labor leader and senatorial candidate Leody de Guzman on Saturday likewise called on the DFA and the Philippine Embassy in Qatar to aid in securing the release of Filipinos detained there.
“I am calling on the Philippine Consulate in Qatar and the DFA to do everything to help and release the detained OFWs for holding a rally,” De Guzman said in Filipino in a statement.
De Guzman, a staunch critic of Duterte, said that the arrested Filipinos deserve assistance from the government.
“Though we may have different perspectives on Duterte, they are Filipino workers that must be protected by our government,” he pointed out.
Last week, OFWs calling for the former president’s release threatened to stop sending money home in protest of his arrest.
