Qatar allows PH labor attaché to contact detained Pinoys

The Qatari government has allowed the Philippine labor attaché in Qatar to meet with Filipinos who were detained for holding an unauthorized political protest, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.

In an interview with GMA Integrated News, DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said, "Around 17 of them are currently being assisted by a team led by our embassy in Qatar. Of course, our labor attaché, who is a lawyer, is also on the ground providing the necessary assistance to them."

Cacdac said the embassy team has managed to visit the detainees, adding that, "Physically, they are okay. But, of course, there are legal matters to resolve. Again, there are allegations of violations of Qatari law. So, we need to discuss how to sort that matter out. However, we will have to await the findings from the Qatari side on this matter."

Of the Filipinos still in detention, five are women while the remaining 12 are men. Three children who were among the detainees have been released, but their parents remain in custody, according to the DMW.

Cacdac said, "At the moment, there are three minors and their parents, because they were a family. The three minors are with their parents, but their parents are still detained. Again, we're providing all possible legal assistance that can be offered."

Under Qatari law, the organization of gatherings, particularly those related to political issues, is strictly regulated, leading to the arrests during the protest. The Philippine government continues to work closely with the Qatari authorities to address the situation.

Over the weekend, the Department of Foreign Affairs clarified that 20 Filipinos, and not 17 as previously reported, were detained over the political demonstration in Qatar.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB that if charges are filed against the arrested the Filipinos, the Philippine Embassy in Qatar will give them legal assistance since they may be imprisoned for three years.

De Vega had said they may have been held to oppose the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.

For its part, Malacañang earlier assured that the Philippine government would extend assistance to Filipinos detained over the activity. — VDV, GMA Integrated News