Qatar frees 17 Filipinos

The 17 Filipinos who were arrested in Qatar for participating in an unauthorized political demonstration have been cleared of all charges, according to Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro.

The group was arrested on 28 March at a resort in Doha where they were holding a rally believed to be in protest of the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing a charge of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court.

In a briefing on Monday, Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., through Qatari Ambassador to the Philippines, Ahmed Saad Al-Homidi, had personally appealed to the government of Qatar to release the Filipinos.

Castro said the decision to release the Filipinos reflected the strong diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Qatar.

“This was closely monitored by the President to ensure assistance for our 17 countrymen. As a result, their cases have been dismissed and they have been released,” Castro said.

The Filipinos were initially charged with illegal assembly under Qatar’s Law No. 18 of 2004, which mandates imprisonment and fines for individuals organizing public gatherings or processions without a permit.

However, with the charges dismissed, the Filipinos are free to either go back to their jobs in Qatar or return to the Philippines.

The demonstration was reportedly a peaceful gathering, with the Department of Foreign Affairs stating that the rally was “harmless” and described it as more of a “picnic gathering.”

The demonstration was believed sparked by the detention of Duterte in the Netherlands, where he is facing charges related to his controversial war on drugs.

Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said that on 1 April, the Qatari government authorized the Philippine labor attaché in Doha to meet with the detained Filipinos.

Following this, the Filipinos were granted a provisional release, which allowed them to return to their residences while the investigation continued.

While this was a local issue in Qatar, the arrest of Duterte and his legal battles have sparked global rallies in cities across the world.