UAE frees 15 Filipinos, 834 foreigners from prison after Ramadan

The government of the United Arab Emirates has ordered the release from prison of 15 Filipinos and 834 people of different nationalities, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday.

The Filipino prisoners were among those pardoned by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Abu Dhabi recently as the Arabian Peninsula nation celebrated the holy month of Ramadan.

“I wish to thank the UAE government for releasing the 15 Filipinos from Abu Dhabi jails,” Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Grace Relucio Princesa said in a statement.

“We have spoken to some of those who were released during our regular weekly jail visits, and all they wished then was to be able to be with their loved ones again in the Philippines,” the Filipino envoy said.

“I am sure they are very grateful for having been given a new opportunity to start again,” she said.

The Philippine embassy in UAE, a home to nearly 1 million Filipinos continues to remind its nationals across the Emirates to respect the nation’s laws, as well as their culture and tradition.

It has supported recently the publication of a guidebook for overseas Filipinos in the UAE, in addition to hosting legal aid and seminars in the embassy on a regular basis.

A guidebook titled “Essential OFW Guide to the UAE” written by lawyer Barney Almazar and published by the Philippine Embassy in UAE was recently formally launched at the DFA headquarters.

The book given for free was seen as a remedy for most woes of the OFWs in UAE who get into trouble because of money, drugs and alcohol, illegal recruitment and possession of fake documents. SM