Pinoy sentenced to death in Qatar for espionage a fall guy – fellow detainees

The Filipino who was sentenced to death in Qatar for espionage and economic sabotage on April 30 might have been set up as a fall guy, fellow Filipinos who were detained with him said.

In a report on GMA News' “24 Oras” on Saturday, the convicted Filipino's driver denied reports that his employer stole and sold sensitive information from a company in Qatar.

The driver, who was also detained in Qatar, but has since been released, belied reports that the Filipino passed information about the Qatar military to the National Bureau of Investigation and to a senior Army official in the Philippines.

According to the driver, who refused to be identified, their Qatari boss was implicated in an anomaly involving money and might have used the convicted Filipino as a fall guy.

“Siya 'yung dinidikdik according to the auditing para mag-testify against sa kanyang amo. They need to level up the accusation against him from the administrative to the national security level para talagang madiin siya,” the driver said.

He also suspects that the charge was raised to espionage in an attempt to cover up for other Qatari nationals involved in the alleged anomaly in the company. Another Filipino who was also detained with the convict echoed the sentiments of the driver.

“We know na itong mga taong ito [ay] innocent. Hindi talaga sila spy. They don't need to be spying for the Philippines. They love their job, they are good citizens even in our country and doon sa Qatar. Wala silang ginawang masama,” the Filipino said.

The two are among the nine Filipinos who were arrested in Qatar on March 28, 2010. They initially faced terrorism charges.

On July 1 of the same year, the two were cleared of charges and released. Of the nine Filipinos detained, six were released.

Of the remaining three, one was sentenced to death for espionage and economic sabotage while two other Filipinos were meted life imprisonment for the same offense.

GMA News sought the side of the NBI and Department of Foreign Affairs about the matter but they had yet to respond as of this post. — Andrei Medina/JDS, GMA News