PH willing to ask employers of 17 OFWs in Duterte rally to keep them employed | ABS-CBN
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PH willing to ask employers of 17 OFWs in Duterte rally to keep them employed
PH willing to ask employers of 17 OFWs in Duterte rally to keep them employed
The Philippine government is willing to talk to Qatari employers to keep 17 overseas Filipino workers employed after they were detained for allegedly participating in a pro-Duterte rally.
The Philippine government is willing to talk to Qatari employers to keep 17 overseas Filipino workers employed after they were detained for allegedly participating in a pro-Duterte rally.
Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said the 17 OFWs, who were given provisional release, are not yet off the hook “in the sense that they are still subject to investigation.”
Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said the 17 OFWs, who were given provisional release, are not yet off the hook “in the sense that they are still subject to investigation.”
“Sa ngayon, investigation pa rin. The Qatari Prosecution Service is still determining kung merong sufficient basis to file charges,” he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.
“Sa ngayon, investigation pa rin. The Qatari Prosecution Service is still determining kung merong sufficient basis to file charges,” he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.
Asked if the OFWs have been allowed to return to work, he said: “‘Yun ang isang inaalam natin sa ngayon. Of course, isa sa mga layunin natin is to help them maintain their jobs, their work, to talk to their employers if it is needed about maintaining their employment.”
Asked if the OFWs have been allowed to return to work, he said: “‘Yun ang isang inaalam natin sa ngayon. Of course, isa sa mga layunin natin is to help them maintain their jobs, their work, to talk to their employers if it is needed about maintaining their employment.”
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He said the Philippine government has an action fund that can be used to help these OFWs.
He said the Philippine government has an action fund that can be used to help these OFWs.
Cacdac refused to answer directly if the OFWs participated in a political rally or a “party” as claimed in social media, saying this will form part of the group’s legal defense in the investigation.
Cacdac refused to answer directly if the OFWs participated in a political rally or a “party” as claimed in social media, saying this will form part of the group’s legal defense in the investigation.
He noted the Philippines’ labor attache is already reaching out to the OFWs to offer medical and legal assistance.
He noted the Philippines’ labor attache is already reaching out to the OFWs to offer medical and legal assistance.
“We are still giving them time to rest and spend some time with their loved ones, to communicate with their families back home but it will not take long. Our labor attache has already been reaching out to them at isa-isang tinatawagan at kinukumusta, OK naman in general,” he said.
“We are still giving them time to rest and spend some time with their loved ones, to communicate with their families back home but it will not take long. Our labor attache has already been reaching out to them at isa-isang tinatawagan at kinukumusta, OK naman in general,” he said.
“At some point, we will offer medical service, checkups, and of course to meet them for the investigation that will continue and we need to have them sit down with a lawyer.”
“At some point, we will offer medical service, checkups, and of course to meet them for the investigation that will continue and we need to have them sit down with a lawyer.”
The DMW official earlier said conducting an illegal assembly or gathering without a permit is punishable by six months to three years imprisonment as well as a potential fine of 10,000 to 50,000 Qatari riyals (P157,944 to 789,724), subject to the recommendation of the prosecutor and discretion of the Qatari criminal court.
The DMW official earlier said conducting an illegal assembly or gathering without a permit is punishable by six months to three years imprisonment as well as a potential fine of 10,000 to 50,000 Qatari riyals (P157,944 to 789,724), subject to the recommendation of the prosecutor and discretion of the Qatari criminal court.
He appealed to Filipinos overseas to strictly observe laws and regulations of their host countries.
He appealed to Filipinos overseas to strictly observe laws and regulations of their host countries.
NO FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega earlier confirmed the 17 OFWs are being investigated for their political activities, noting that Qatar does not allow freedom of assembly for non-citizens since the country’s population is made up mostly of foreigners, with only 20 percent of the population Qatari.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega earlier confirmed the 17 OFWs are being investigated for their political activities, noting that Qatar does not allow freedom of assembly for non-citizens since the country’s population is made up mostly of foreigners, with only 20 percent of the population Qatari.
He noted the March 28 gathering, which was announced on social media and conducted inside a beach resort, coincided with the 80th birthday of former President Rodrigo Duterte who is currently facing a crimes against humanity complaint in The Hague.
He noted the March 28 gathering, which was announced on social media and conducted inside a beach resort, coincided with the 80th birthday of former President Rodrigo Duterte who is currently facing a crimes against humanity complaint in The Hague.
De Vega denied allegations that the Philippine ambassador ordered the arrest of the OFWs, saying the official represents the Philippines but “has no power there.”
De Vega denied allegations that the Philippine ambassador ordered the arrest of the OFWs, saying the official represents the Philippines but “has no power there.”
“[They] are not being arrested because the Qataris are anti-Duterte…If they had rallied pro-Duterte, anti-Duterte, President natin or anti-President, they would also have been arrested,” he said in an ANC interview.
“[They] are not being arrested because the Qataris are anti-Duterte…If they had rallied pro-Duterte, anti-Duterte, President natin or anti-President, they would also have been arrested,” he said in an ANC interview.
He added that it is likely that 1 or 2 of the OFWs who organized the gathering could face charges while another Filipino who participated in the gathering despite having an expired visa could be deported.
He added that it is likely that 1 or 2 of the OFWs who organized the gathering could face charges while another Filipino who participated in the gathering despite having an expired visa could be deported.
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