MANILA, Philippines – Several Filipinos were arrested and detained in Qatar early Friday, March 28, for participating in “suspected unauthorized political demonstrations,” the Philippine embassy in Qatar confirmed.
While the embassy did not disclose details of the Filipinos’ political demonstration in Qatar, the rally coincided with prayer rallies in the Philippines marking the 80th birthday of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is detained at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands, over alleged crimes against humanity stemming from his controversial war on drugs.
The embassy said that it is coordinating with local authorities to provide consular assistance to the detained Filipinos.
On March 13, the embassy issued an advisory reminding Filipinos in Qatar to respect local laws and customs regarding mass demonstrations and political protests. This was after Filipinos in other parts of the world held protests following the arrest of Duterte.
Meanwhile, activists and families of victims of Duterte’s bloody war on drugs staged a counter-protest on Friday, calling for his conviction.
Under Duterte’s war on drugs, human rights groups estimate that over 30,000 people mostly poor, small-time pushers and users were killed. – Rappler.com