Sinabi ni Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac na binigyan ng provisional release ang 17 Pinoy na naunang inaresto sa Qatar dahil sa hindi awtorisadong demonstrasyon.
Sa press briefing nitong Huwebes, sinabi ni Cacdac na inatasan ni Pangulong Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. ang kinauukulang ahensiya na kumilos para mapalaya ang 17 Pinoy.
''The second and more important, should I say directive of the President, was to secure their immediate release. And with gladness, we report today that—of course, based on the President’s directive to secure the immediate release of the 17 who are still detained, the Qatari authorities in two separate batches – the males around 2:30 A.M. Qatari time and the females around 4 A.M. Qatari time were provisionally released pending investigation,'' ayon kay Cacdac.
Gayunman, sinabi ni Cacdac na hindi pa maaaring makauwi sa Pilipinas ang mga naturang Pinoy habang patuloy pa ang isinasagawang imbestigasyon.
''So, this means they have their liberty. Pending investigation, they are able to all go home, to their respective homes in Qatar, in Doha and able—yes, able to spend time for themselves and their loved ones,'' ani Cacdac.
''They could not travel outside of Qatar while investigations are going on,'' dagdag niya.
Ayon pa sa kalihim, wala pang kaso na isinasampa laban sa 17 Pinoy na sumali sa naturang pagkilos.
Ang pagdakip sa mga Pinoy ay dahil umano sa illegal assembly, na may parusang pagkakakulong ng anim na buwan hanggang tatlong taon, at multang 10,000 Qatari Riyals hanggang 50,000 Qatari Riyals.
''No charges have been filed, in fact the President when he gave us instructions to secure immediate release was pointing out the matter on whether or not charges have indeed been filed. And so, our legal counsel in Qatar had put forward this point to the Qatari authorities,'' sabi ni Cacdac.
Kasama umano sa direktiba ni Marcos, ayon kay Cacdac ay tiyakin ang legal na tulong sa mga naturang Pinoy na inaresto.
Nagpasalamat naman si Cacdac sa pamahalaan ng Qatar sa pagpayag na bigyan ng provisional release ang 17 Pinoy.
''We’re very, very thankful to the Qatari authorities, to the Qatari government for allowing the provisional release of the 17 as the investigation proceed and as directed by the President, legal assistance and welfare assistance will continually be provided to the 17,'' saad niya. — mula sa ulat ni Anna Felicia Bajo/FRJ, GMA Integrated News
