Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero 

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has hailed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for providing assistance to 20 Filipinos who were arrested in Qatar for taking part in an unauthorized political demonstration.

Escudero said the swift action by DFA and DMW officials has led to the release from detention of four Filipinos, including three minors, who participated in a political demonstration in support of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The demonstration coincided with Duterte’s 80th birthday last Friday, March 30.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa ating mga kawani ng gobyerno, lalo na sa mga naka-destino sa ating embahada sa Qatar, sa mabilis na pag-asikaso sa ating mga kababayan na nadawit sa problemang legal nitong nakaraang Biyernes,” the Senate chief said.

(We thank the workers of government, especially those detailed at our embassy in Qatar, for rendering swift assistance to our countryme who encountered legal problems last Friday.)

“Sa serbisyo publiko, dapat talaga ay walang bahid pulitka, at pinatunayan ito ng mga kawani natin sa embahada (Public service is devoid of political color, and this was proven by our embassy employees),” he added.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Vega has reported that one of the 20 held by the Qatari authorities was released through the intervention of the Philippine Embassy in Doha.

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac has said that the country’s labor attaché in Qatar, who is also a lawyer, is providing legal assistance to the detained Filipinos.

The Senate President said he expects Philippine authorities to work for the release of the rest of the Filipinos held in detention in connection with the political demonstration and extend all help and legal assistance as necessary.

He also took the opportunity to remind Filipinos in Qatar, as well as those working overseas, to observe the laws of their host countries to avoid legal woes.

In Qatar, any type of political rally is prohibited and any individual found guilty of violating the law could face imprisonment of up to three years, according to DFA. 

Duterte is being detained and tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands for crimes against humanity in connection with his administration’s bloody war on drugs.