Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Thursday announced the provisional release of the 17 Filipinos arrested in Qatar for illegal assembly.

“We are very, very thankful to the Qatari authorities, to the Qatari government for allowing the provisional release of the 17 as the investigations proceed,” Cacdac said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

“As directed by the President, legal assistance and welfare assistance will continually be provided to the 17 (Filipinos),” he said.

Cacdac said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed him to secure the immediate release of the 17 Filipinos in Qatar.

He said the Qatari authorities provisionally released the Filipinos in two separate batches. The three minors were immediately released following their arrest with the group.

Cacdac said they will be allowed to go home in Doha by releasing them pending ongoing investigation.

Among those detained were 12 males, five females, and three minors. They were arrested last March 27 in participating in a rally in support of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who was arrested and detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face trial on crimes against humanity.

President Marcos immediately directed the DMW, in partnership with the One Country Team, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Philippine Embassy in Doha, to provide legal and welfare assistance to the 17 Filipinos.

Cacdac took the opportunity to remind overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to follow the laws and regulations of their host countries.

“Ang mensahe ay mag-ingat lang po. Siguraduhing sundin ang batas, ang mga regulasyon ng host countries,” he said. | PND