MANILA, 29 May (PIA) - Vice President and Presidential Adviser for Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Concerns Jejomar C. Binay assured the families of three Filipinos jailed for alleged espionage and economic sabotage in Qatar of government’s help.Binay allayed the fears of families saying the cases are still on appeal and there is still hope.
“The embassy is also helping our OFWs and will not forsake them,” the Vice President assured.
According to the Office of the Vice President, one of the three jailed Filipinos was meted the death penalty, while the two others were sentenced to life imprisonment in April this year. They were among the nine Filipinos arrested in 2010. The rest were eventually released.
The verdict has already been elevated to Qatar's appellate court. If the court upholds the verdict, the Filipinos may still re-appeal their case twice with the same court.
In the event that the original verdict is upheld after the three appeals, the appellants may then seek the Court of Cassation's (Qatar's Supreme Court) intervention.
Meanwhile, Binay said the acquittal of the Filipinos' co-accused is a source of optimism.
He also said that the denial of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the National Bureau of Investigation of receiving sensitive information from the accused also helps their case. (OVP/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)
Source: news.pia.gov.ph
