3,000 Filipinos abroad languish in jail, DFA says

Three thousand Filipinos abroad are either in detention or currently facing criminal prosecution, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. Of the total figure, seventy percent – who include those who work overseas – are embroiled in immigration-related offenses and are expected to be deported after serving their brief sentences. The rest are in custody for common crimes, including theft and drug trafficking, the foreign affairs department said in its semi-annual report to both houses of Congress. Although Philippine embassy and consulate officials conduct monthly jail visits, these still depend on host governments, said the same report which contains a list of Filipinos detained in other countries. Together with the Department of Labor and Employment-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Foreign Service posts also maintain a Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) in countries with a large concentration of Filipinos. In Saudi Arabia, the DOLE also maintains four Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) located in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, and Buraida. Saudi Arabia court to release verdict on jailed Filipino In the meantime, a Saudi Arabian court is expected to release its final verdict on a drug-related case involving a Filipino jailed in Dammam since 2008, the DFA said. Jason Mallorca Pineda confessed to receiving 21.2 grams of methamphetamine and later selling it his fellow Filipinos in Saudi Arabia, said a report made by the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. The case was endorsed by the General Prosecutor to the Grand Court of Dammam and later followed up by the jail, the DFA said, citing the Embassy’s report. “The presiding judge informed that the case is still under the Court’s study and review," the DFA said. Since bail is disallowed for drug-related cases under local laws, Pineda remains in detention. In a related development, the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs said final arrangements are being made for the repatriation of Jose Jonathan Botor Bigas. Bigas was also imprisoned for a drug-related offense in Saudi Arabia. “Funds are being made available for the repatriation of Mr. Bigas who was originally sentenced to one year imprisonment and 250 lashes in August 2007. Mr. Bigas finished serving his term in August 2008 but due to administrative procedures between the Saudi court and the Governor’s Office, he remained in jail for a time," the DFA said. The DFA said there are 62 Filipinos incarcerated in nine countries in the Middle East on drug-related cases. Of these, 43 are in Riyadh and majority are women. - GMANews.TV