H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of UAE, meets with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  and First Lady Liza Aranete-Marcos during a courtesy call  at the Malacanang Palace on June 4, 2024. Mariane Bermudez, PPA pool/file

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Monday that 220 Filipinos detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for various offenses were pardoned and are set to be repatriated back to the Philippines.

The Filipinos were pardoned by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the 53rd National Day of UAE, which was celebrated last December 2, 2024.

According to Marcos Jr., this was in addition to the 143 Filipinos who were also given a pardon during Eid al-Adha.

"Ang desisyong ito, na karagdagan sa isang daan at 143 Pilipino na nabigyan ng pardon noong Eid al-Adha, ay patunay ng matibay na ugnayan ng ating mga bansa. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whom I also had the honor to meet, for this compassionate gesture," Marcos Jr. said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said that the pardon was the direct result of the President's meeting with his UAE counterpart last November.

The President added that the involved agencies are now processing the documents of the Filipinos for their swift travel back to the Philippines.