No Filipinos on Qatari death row

DOHA—No Filipinos are currently on death row in Qatar after a Filipino convicted for spying here had his case commuted to life imprisonment instead, Philippine Ambassador Alan Timbayan said on Friday.

Several Filipinos, however, had been convicted of such serious crimes including involvement in illegal drugs and rape, he said.

Timbayan said Abdullah Tan Chua, a supervisor in a petroleum company, was originally sent to the death row seven yars ago after he was caught possessing documents of, and photographs about sensitive Qatari facilities—including a military camp.

Two other Filipinos working for the Qatari Air Force got the lesser sentence of 15 years imprisonment after they were found guilty of passing on information to Chua.

But Timbayan said it was not clear whom Tan was spying for.

He said that security was a top concern in Qatar, especially with the advent then of the al-Qaida. The concern is now focused on the Islamic State, or Daesh.

Tan was among Filipinos currently locked up in Qatari jails over various offenses.

Other charges faced by jailed Filipinos here included “love” offense, or immorality. They were arrested for being in the private company of individuals they were not married to.

There were also those who faced charges over allegations of involvement in illegal drugs and bouncing checks.

Timbayan said President Duterte might raise the plight of Filipinos in jails here with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani when the two leaders meet. Other topics likely to be discussed include labor and security issues.