Seventeen Filipinos are still in police custody in Qatar after being arrested for participating in a protest.
According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega, the detained Filipinos are being held at a police station about an hour away from Doha’s capital.
Philippine embassy officials have been deployed to the police station to monitor the situation and coordinate with authorities.
Last Friday, the Philippine Embassy in Doha confirmed that several Filipinos were arrested and detained for holding an unauthorized political demonstration.
While the embassy did not specify if the protest was linked to the large-scale demonstrations coinciding with former President Rodrigo Duterte’s 80th birthday, De Vega said this may have been the reason for the gathering.
The DFA has reminded all Filipinos in Qatar to respect the country’s laws and customs regarding public demonstrations and political expression.
De Vega assured that the Philippine Embassy in Qatar is providing assistance to the detained Filipinos.