MANILA, Philippines- Sinabi ng mga Pilipinong naaresto sa Qatar noong nakaraang linggo na nagsagawa sila ng pagtitipon upang ipagdiwang ang kaarawan ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at hindi upang iprotesta ang pagkakaaresto rito, base sa Department of Foreign Affairs nitong Miyerkules.
Nadakip ang mga Pilipino sa isang beach halos 70 kilometro mula sa capital Doha noong nakaraang linggo dahil sa umano’y paglabag sa batas ng Qatar sa 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,” paglalahad ni Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega.
“They went to a beach resort… They were told by the organizers not to bring paraphernalia but some did so that attracted attention,” dagdag niya.
“We shouldn’t talk too much about how they were engaged in a political rally because that will harm their defense,” ayon pa sa opisyal.
Nilinaw ng DFA na 17 Pilipino ang nananatiling nakaditine, at hindi 16 tulad ng naunang napaulat.
“They are arrested not because they were illegal but because of their political demonstration,” ani De Vega said, pinabulaanan ang social media posts na nagsasabing dinakip ang mga Pilipino dahil sa visa violations.
“If they are released, hopefully they are not deported,” anang undersecretary.
“The one with the expired visa, at best he might be deported,” dagdag niya. RNT/SA
