Men sit at the Doha Corniche backdropped by high buildings in Doha on March 3, 2025, during Muslim the holy fasting month of Ramadan. Karim Jaafar, AFP/File 

MANILA — Three Filipino teenagers who participated in unauthorized protests in Qatar last week have been freed, while 16 others may be detained for up to three years if authorities are convinced that they violated local laws against rallies, an official from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday.

Nineteen Filipinos were arrested in Qatar last week after they held rallies to protest the arrest for former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Several Filipinos arrested in Qatar for holding political demonstrations: PH embassy

“Three doon [sa mga protesters are] minors, mga teenager, pinalaya na. Their mother, though, is still in custody ng mga pulis,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told reporters.

“As far as I know, iimbestigahan. Kapag satisfied yung pulis, papalayain, kung hindi, they will be charged,” he said.

“Walang report yung embassy natin about piyansa… That function does not seem to be there,” he said.

Under Qatar's Law No. 18 of 2004, unauthorized protests and demonstrations are illegal, with public gatherings and protests requiring approval from the government.

The female demonstrators have been questioned over the weekend, while male protesters are expected to face police interrogations later in the day, De Vega said, noting that they are expecting a lengthy process “maybe because of the Ramadan season” when work hours are cut short in Muslim countries.

“It’s not unusual nor does it mean na mas tina-target sila ng Qatar… It’s not to be taken na indication na ito na ang Qatar is biased for or against the Philippines or the former Philippine president,” he said.

“This is the Middle East. Matagal yan. This is not a western-influenced country like the Philippines. Iba ang system of laws sa Qatar or other countries in the region,” he said.

The DFA hopes that all 16 Filipinos “will be released in the next week or so” and that they would only be fined instead of charged with cases, De Vega said. 

“Wala pa tayong mare-repatriate from Qatar kasi nasa police custody pa yan. Ang gusto natin mapalaya at makabalik [sila] sa trabaho,” the official said.

“Kung may kaso against them, it will be up to 3 years in detention. I hope not kasi hindi naman sila nanggugulo [pero] baka may deportation,” he said.

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The DFA reminded Filipinos overseas to respect and follow laws in their host countries before holding demonstrations.

“Alam namin na may emotional issues involved pero nandiyan kayo para magtrabaho at para hindi kayo mawalan ng trabaho para sa sarili ninyo at para sa pamilya ninyo,” De Vega said.

“You have to follow the advice yung payo ng mga pulis diyan. Dapat sumunod… Ayaw natin na pati kayo makasuhan o kunin ng pulis dahil unruly kayo,” he said.

“Kung gusto ninyo magpahayag ng political views, may halalan. Mag register po kayo… para makaboto sa absentee voting. ‘Yun ang isang paraan para makapaglabas kayo ng sentimiyento bilang Filipino citizens nang walang kulong,” he added.

The Department of Migrant Workers earlier said it sent a lawyer to Doha to provide necessary assistance to the affected OFWs in Qatar.

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