The Emir of Qatar has granted Royal pardon to 25 overseas Filipino workers detained for various offenses on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III reported on Sunday.
Bello said he has conveyed the gratitude of President Duterte to Sheikh Tamim Bin Hammad Al Thani for his act of compassion.
“The most kind gesture of His Highness the Emir is a testament to our strong people-to-people linkages and the triumph of the human spirit. We are truly grateful,” Bello said.
The pardoned workers are soon to be repatriated and receive assistance from the government, he said.
Bello graced a gathering of more than 4,000 Filipino migrant workers in Doha in observance of Philippine Independence Day organized by the Philippine embassy in the oil-rich country. The event, which coincided with the celebration of Ed’l Fitr, was also attended by the Qatar minister of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, Dr. Essa Bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi and other Qatari officials.
“I also join our migrant workers in expressing our sincere gratitude for the generosity of His Excellency Minister Nuaimi in co-hosting the gathering,” he said.
Most of the pardoned workers have been imprisoned for bouncing checks, and handful for drug and adultery cases. They have been in detention for months.
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25 OFW, binigyan ng pardon ng Qatar
Binigyan ng Emir ng Qatar ng Royal pardon ang 25 overseas Filipino worker na nakakulong dahil sa iba’t ibang kaso kasabay ng pagdiriwang ng holy month ng Ramadan, ito ang sinabi ni Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III noong Linggo.
Ipinahayag ni Bello ang pasasalamat ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte kay Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hammad Al Thani dahil sa ipinakita nitong awa sa mga OFW.
“Ang kabaitang ipinakita ng Emir ay isang testamento ng ating malakas na ugnayan sa kanilang bansa. Kami ay lubos na nagpapasalamat,” wika ni Bello.
Ang mga manggagawang nabigyan ng pardon ay pauuwiin at bibigyan ng tulong ng pamahalaan, ayon pa kay Bello.
Nakiisa si Bello sa isang pagtitipon na dinaluhan ng 4,000 Pilipinong migranteng manggagawa sa Doha bilang paggunita sa Philippine Independence Day na pinangunahan ng Embahada ng Pilipinas.
Ang pagtitipon ay kasabay rin ng pagdiriwang ng Eid’l Fitr na dinaluhan ni Qatar Minister of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs Dr. Essa Bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi at iba pang opisyal ng Qatar.
“Nakikiisa ako sa mga migranteng manggagawa sa pagpapaabot ng pasasalamat sa kabutihang loob ni Minister Nuaimi na isa sa mga naging punong-abala ng pagtitipong ito,” ayon pa kay Bello.
Nabatid na karamihan sa mga manggagawang nabigyan ng pardon ay nakasuhan dahil sa mga tumalbog na tseke, droga at adultery. Ilang buwan na ring nakakulong ang mga OFW sa nasabing bansa.
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