17 OFWs held in Qatar granted provisional release
Department of Migrant Workers Sec. Hans Leo Cacdac. Arnel Tacson/INQUIRER.net
The 17 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) arrested in Qatar for holding an unauthorized demonstration in support of detained former President Rodrigo Duterte have been granted provisional release, the Department of Migrant Workers said on Thursday.
In a Palace press briefing, Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the 17 OFWs (not 16 as earlier reported) were allowed to go back to their respective homes in Qatar.
However, they still cannot leave the country while under investigation.
‘’We’re very, very thankful to the Qatari government for allowing the provisional release of the 17 as the investigation proceeds,” Cacdac said.
He said the workers were released in two batches in the early morning of April 4: The first was composed of 12 males, followed by a group of five females about an hour and a half later. Three minors who were also arrested were released on Monday.
Observe local laws
No charges have yet been filed against the OFWs. But Cacdac gave assurances that the government would continue to provide them with legal assistance through the Philippine labor attaché in Doha, on top of the services of their retained Qatari lawyer.
The OFWs were arrested in a Doha resort on March 27 while holding a picket calling for Duterte’s release from the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Duterte is facing trial before the ICC for murder as a crime against humanity concerning his six-year antidrug campaign that left thousands dead.
Earlier advisory
On March 13, the Philippine Embassy in Qatar issued an advisory reminding Filipinos to respect local laws and customs regarding mass demonstrations and political protests.
The reminder was made after Duterte supporters held protests in other parts of the world following his arrest in Manila on March 11.
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Qatar’s Law No. 18 of 2004 considers protests and demonstrations illegal unless sanctioned by the government.
According to Cacdac, violators face a jail term between six months and three years and a fine ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 Qatari riyals.
