The government has assured continued assistance to Filipinos detained in Qatar for joining political rallies supporting former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing trial in The Hague for crimes against humanity.
“Obligasyon pa rin po ng ating pamahalaan, ng administrasyon, ang mga Pilipino anuman po ang kulay nila,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a briefing.
In response to questions about the detained Filipinos’ safety and well-being, Castro confirmed the government’s commitment to assist them.
“Wala po tayong sinisino. Wala po tayong discrimination patungkol po diyan. Basta po kapwa Pilipino ay tutulungan po iyan ng administrasyon,” according to her.
She noted that the government acted quickly upon learning of the arrests, directing the labor attaché, a lawyer, to assess the situation.
“Maliban po diyan at kung ano pa po ang maaari nating ibigay na tulong, let’s say, mga care packages na sa abot na makakaya ng ating pamahalaan, ibibigay po natin sa ating kababayan sa nasabing bansa,” said Castro.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Filipinos are in police custody about an hour outside Doha. They were arrested for participating in rallies supporting Duterte.IMT
