Provisional release has been granted to the 17 detained Filipinos in Qatar, according to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac.

In a press briefing at Malacañang on Thursday, 3 April, Cacdac confirmed that the detainees were released in two batches: 12 men at around 2:30 AM and five women at around 4:00 AM.

“This means that they have their liberty. Pending investigation, they are able to go home to their respective homes in Qatar, in Doha, and spend time with themselves and their loved ones,” Cacdac said.

The DMW secretary also noted that no charges have been filed against the 17 individuals, but the Qatari prosecution service continues its investigation.

If charges are pursued, the Filipinos could face imprisonment of six months to three years and a fine of around QAR 10,000 to 50,000 (P157,900 to P789,000).

Cacdac mentioned that Qatar’s judicial process is generally fast, but he refrained from providing a specific timeline on the cases of the Filipinos to avoid raising inaccurate expectations.

“But at this stage, rest assured that our legal counsel will also be there to monitor, among other things, the speed and determination of the Qatari side’s ultimate findings so that this case can be settled once and for all for the benefit of our fellow Filipinos,” he said.

The DMW secretary also reminded Filipinos abroad to comply with the laws of their host countries, warning that while some countries, like Qatar, respond with arrests, others monitor and surveil the Filipino community.

The 17 Filipinos were among the 20 individuals initially detained on 28 March at a resort in Doha for participating in an unauthorized political demonstration coinciding with former President Rodrigo Duterte’s birthday and against his presence at The Hague, Netherlands. Three minors who were among those taken into custody were released earlier.