00:00The government is now helping the 16 Filipinos imprisoned in Qatar
00:05because of the collusion of the former President Rodrigo Duterte.
00:10The Department of Foreign Affairs also reminded the Filipinos
00:15to follow the laws of the country wherever they are.
00:20J.P. Soriano has the story.
00:22During a picnic held by many Filipinos abroad,
00:29the former President Rodrigo Duterte celebrated his birthday this Friday.
00:33For that, the permit was obtained by the people who gathered in The Hague, the Netherlands,
00:38which was reminded by the police there.
00:41The Department of Foreign Affairs also reminded them to follow the laws of the country
00:45just like the government.
00:47Don't harass people, just follow the law.
00:50We don't want you to be sued or arrested by the police because you're unruly.
00:58His supporters in Qatar also enjoyed a picnic.
01:02But they have a message to the country that political rallies are prohibited.
01:08Of the 20 arrested by the police in Qatar, 16 were detained.
01:13Three were released because they were still minors.
01:16I think they were harmless. It was more like a picnic gathering.
01:20But they have t-shirts, placards or what.
01:25That's the reason why they were arrested.
01:27According to President Bongbong Marcos' order,
01:29the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy are doing their best to help them,
01:35especially since the prison will not be released for three years
01:38in order to prove the guilty in the political rally.
01:42It is still an obligation of the government and the administration
01:47to help the Filipinos, regardless of their color.
01:51We are not accusing anyone.
01:53As long as they are Filipinos, the administration will help them.
01:57We're hopeful that they will be released in the next week or so.
02:01They are not harassing people, plus deportation.
02:05They will have services of legal counsel.
02:08The situation there is different.
02:10You're not in the Philippines.
02:11We know that there are emotional issues involved.
02:19This is an emotional issue.
02:21But you're there to work.
02:26I hope you will not lose your job for yourself and your family.
02:32For GMA Integrated News, J.P. Soriano.
02:36For 24 Hours.
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