OFW jailed in Dubai over grape seeds and red eyes

MANILA, Philippines - Overseas Filipino worker (OFW) George Fernandez Regino never imagined that having red eyes and some grape seeds at the same time would cause him great trouble. But this was exactly what happened to Regino, who is now languishing in a United Arab Emirates jail after security officials at the Dubai international airport concluded that the seeds could be marijuana seeds because he had red eyes. As recounted by Regino’s wife, Raquel, in an affidavit, the ridiculous incident happened on March 6 as she and her husband were returning from a two-week leave. They left Dubai on February 22 to visit Raque’s hometown in Bongabong in the central Philippine province of Oriental Mindoro because her mother died. As they were exiting Terminal 3 of the Dubai Airport, Raquel said they were stopped by a security officer who asked for their passports and told them that their bags would be checked. When Raquel asked why they were being checked, the officer told them that “it’s just a normal checking" and that if they refuse to do so, they would be forced to cancel the couple’s visas. “Sumunod kami sa lahat ng instructions sa amin dahil alam naming wala kaming tinatago [We followed all their instructions because we had nothing to hide]," she said. Marijuana and grape seeds She said they learned later that the security person became suspicious of them because her husband’s eyes seemed reddish – which Raquel said was due to insufficient rest from the weeklong wake of her mother. What concerned her more, she said, was that the airport officer said he found marijuana seeds inside George’s bag. Raquel said, however, that the seeds were just grape seeds that his husband forgot to throw away from many months ago. “Ayon sa asawa ko, kung iyon ay marijuana seeds, kahit sinong tao siguro magiging aware na iyon ay itago at hindi basta nakakalat sa bag [My husband said that if those were really Marijuana seeds, a normal person wouldn’t have left it in a place that’s easy to find]," she said. She added that she believes her husband because they have been together for nine years and that she hasn’t had any problems with him in the past. “He is a very hardworking, responsible husband and disciplinarian father to my daughter. He’s always thinking about the future of our family that’s why we decided to work in Dubai," said Raquel. The airport arrest She said her husband was then asked to come to the Customs Office at the Dubai Airport Terminal 3 so that a report can be made about the incident. When they came in, authorities immediately took his picture and finger prints, without even listening to the couple’s explanation. “Napakasakit para sa min para gawin nila ang ganung procedure sa isang taong walang nagawang kasalanan [It hurts that they had to perform that kind of procedure on a person who committed no crime]," she said. Raquel said that she was even shown the confiscated seeds – which she described as light green in color, the size of grape seeds, and pointed at one end. After this, she said her husband was forced to sign the report which was written in Arabic. The officials told the couple that it was “just a procedure" but that the Filipino worker still has to come with them. “Wala kaming nagawa umiyak ako ng umiyak sa airport at nagdasal sa Diyos na sana maliwanagan ang isip at maawa ang mga taong naghinala sa asawa ko [We couldn’t do anything, I just cried and cried at the airport and I prayed to God that those suspecting my husband would be enlightened]," said Raquel. Temporary relief She said one member of the Dubai Police took pity on her and gave her a number where she may be able to contact her husband. But after calling the Dubai Criminal Investigation Department (CID) many times, she was only told that her husband still had to be detained for two days. “Tinawagan ko ulit ang CID at nagmakaawang baka pwede na nilang irelease ang asawa ko dahil hindi totoo ang binibintang nila [I called CID again and pleaded to them to release my husband because there is no truth in their accusation]," she said. Raquel said a Lt. Abdullah of the CID allowed for George’s temporary release because his drug test came out negative. He said, however, that they were still waiting for the results of the Airport Customs investigation regarding the confiscated seeds. They were then told that they have finally been cleared and that they could claim their passports anytime. Dilemma But when they were finally able to come to the CID office, Raquel was told that only her passport would be released because they still had to file a case against her husband. “The seeds are illegal. There is no any problem with CID because he’s negative in drug test, if you want to explain, explain in the airport because they are the ones who found the seeds from the bags," a CID personnel told her. George was then detained at the Airport Deportation Center for the alleged possession of 12 pieces of marijuana seeds. Raquel said the prosecutor showed her husband the seeds in question but that her husband was not able to identify whether or not they were the same seeds. “No, I cannot say because it’s a bit different from the seeds inside my bag," he said. His wife said the prosecutor got mad at him and threatened that if he doesn’t confess to committing the crime, his case would take longer. Pending As of posting time, the case is still under investigation. Raquel, on the other hand, remains hopeful that they would find justice. “Ang tanging hiling lang po naming…ay matulungan kami na mabigyan ng hustisya ang kaso nya kahit pauwiin na lang ng Pilipinas sa lalong madaling panahon para mapanatag ang loob ko at pamilya naming naiwan sa Pilipinas," she said. [Our only wish is for justice. I don’t care if they deport him to the Philippines, just as long as our finally can finally be at peace.] Migrant advocacy group OFW-SOS, meanwhile, has requested Philippine Consul General Antonio Curemeng in Dubai for legal assistance for Regino, a native of Taytay, Rizal. "If the report is validated, Mr. Regino is entitled for a legal assistance under RA 8042, thereby on behalf our group OFW-SOS and our advocacy partner CMA (Center for Migrants Advocacy), we kindly request for your legal representation in order to protect the rights of OFW Regino," said Ronnie Abeto, senior action officer of the Pusong Mamon Task Force and the OFW-SOS Team – KSA, in a letter to Curameng. The group also provided GMANews.TV Raquel’s narration of events that led to her husband’s arrest and detention. - GMANews.TV