MANILA — The Filipinos who were arrested in Qatar last week told authorities that they gathered to celebrate former President Rodrigo Duterte’s birthday and not to protest his arrest, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

The Filipinos were arrested at a beach some 70 kilometers outside the capital Doha last week for allegedly violating Qatar’s law on unauthorized protests.

“What they are just saying to investigators was that they are just there for a gathering because it was the birthday of the former president but they did not want to cause any ruckus,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega told reporters.

“They went to a beach resort… They were told by the organizers not to bring paraphernalia but some did so that attracted attention,” he said.

“We shouldn’t talk too much about how they were engaged in a political rally because that will harm their defense,” he said.

The DFA clarified that 17 Filipinos remain in detention, and not 16 as they earlier reported.

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While one of the Filipino detainees was found to have an expired visa, the DFA underscored that they were not arrested for overstaying in the Middle Eastern country.

“They are arrested not because they were illegal but because of their political demonstration,” De Vega said, debunking social media posts that claimed the Filipinos had been arrested for visa violations.

“If they are released, hopefully they are not deported,” the undersecretary said.

“The one with the expired visa, at best he might be deported,” he said.

The Philippine government has provided the detainees with a legal counsel to help with their case.

Three minors, who attended the gathering, have been freed by Qatari authorities.

Under Qatar's Law No. 18 of 2004, protests and demonstrations are deemed illegal unless approved by the government.