Qatar Emir Grants Clemency to Detained Filipinos, as PH Embassy Celebrates Independence Day
Members of the Filipino Community join Philippine and Qatar government officials in celebrating the 120th Philippine Independence Day. (Doha PE photo)
DOHA 03 July 2018 – The Philippine Embassy in Doha, Qatar, in cooperation with the Qatar Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, spearheaded the 120th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence at Al Rayyan Sports Club on 17 June 2017.
Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Overseas Workers Welfare Adminstration Deputy Administrator Arnel Ignacio, and LPGMA Partylist Representative Arnel Ty joined the Filipinos in Qatar to celebrate the occasion.
At the sidelines of the celebration, Secretary Bello announced to the members of the media the royal clemency given to twenty-five Filipino detainees by the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, on the occasion of Ramadan. Secretary Bello also conveyed the appreciation of the Philippine government for the gesture of goodwill by the Emir of Qatar.
Qatar Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Issa Al Jafali Al Nuaimi also graced the celebration, and announced the opening of a human welfare centre which will provide assistance for the victims of trafficking. He also relayed a number of new measures being implemented by Qatar for the protection of workers in the country, including the creation of a workers’ fund for the settlement of labor dues in cases of employers’ financial incapacity.
The celebration dubbed “Hatid Saya ni Pangulong Duterte sa mga OFWs sa Qatar” was put together through the resources of the government with the aim of providing a simple yet meaningful celebration for Filipinos in Qatar.
The event showcased cultural presentations, and a musical and dance extravaganza, and provided free refreshments for everyone. Three lucky winners of the raffle draw went home each with Doha-Manila roundtrip ticket from Philippine Airlines, and one lucky winner bagged the Siomai King franchise raffle prize. END
Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III addresses the crowd during the community celebration. (Doha PE photo)
Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan (leftmost), Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III (center), and Qatar Minister of Labor Issa Al Jafali Al Nuaimi (rightmost) during the cake-cutting ceremony of Kalayaan 2018. (Doha PE photo)
For more information, visit www.dohape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinQatar.