OFWs reminded to abide by laws of host countries
After the arrest of Filipinos in drag at a private Independence Day party in Riyadh, Vice President Noli De Castro reminded overseas Filipino workers (OFW) on Saturday to abide by the laws of host countries to avoid getting into trouble.
De Castro, who is also presidential adviser for OFWs, issued the statement after 69 Filipinos were arrested in Saudi Arabia last June 12 for engaging in gay behavior. [See: Arrested Filipinos dressed in drag freed in KSA]
“I just want to reiterate to our OFWs to observe the laws and rules of the country where they work so as not to get into trouble," he said on his radio program “Para Sa Iyo, Bayan."
Vice Consul Roussel Reyes of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh earlier told GMANews.TV that the Filipino men were arrested in an Independence Day “gay pageant" at a private villa in the Saudi capital.
Reyes said arresting officers, who were tipped off by someone who complained of the noise from the villa, saw the Filipinos wearing wigs and women’s clothes.
Some of the cross dressers were locked in embrace with their foreign boyfriends when arresting officers arrived, a local media report said, quoting arresting officers.
It was not the first time that Filipinos have been rounded up en masse for openly engaging in gay activities. At least 50 people were reportedly arrested last year in the Eastern Province for a similar offense.
According to Saudi Arabia's laws, open display of homosexual behavior is strictly prohibited and punishable by fines, imprisonment, or whipping.
Individuals caught wearing even just one article of women’s clothing could face three to six months imprisonment, and suffer between 50 and 100 lashes with a rattan stick.
Reyes said the 69 Filipinos have been released three days after their arrest, but they are already blacklisted by the Saudi Immigration department.
That means they cannot leave the kingdom while their case is being heard in court.
Reyes said he has contacted the Saudi authorities to find out the hearing date of the 69 Filipinos so the embassy can coordinate directly with them.
Not just in Saudi Arabia
De Castro said it is not only in Saudi Arabia, though, where Filipinos have been detained for engaging in gay behavior.
He cited the case of several Filipino transvestites who are now in jail in the eastern Chinese city of Shanghai on prostitution and theft charges.
Citing a report of the Philippine mission in Shanghai, De Castro said police made the arrest following complaints from male expatriates that they were robbed by their Filipino gay partners in hotels or motels.
De Castro said the Philippine Embassy in China is helping the Filipinos in their cases, but warned that such incidents could sap the meager resources of Philippine foreign posts that could be used for more important cases, such as those of abused domestic workers.
“It would be best if before embarking on a job abroad make sure you are physically, mentally, emotionally and psychologically prepared for the job, aware of the new kind of community, culture you will adapt to and the laws and rules you have to follow," De Castro also said in a statement on Friday. - GMANews.TV
De Castro, who is also presidential adviser for OFWs, issued the statement after 69 Filipinos were arrested in Saudi Arabia last June 12 for engaging in gay behavior. [See: Arrested Filipinos dressed in drag freed in KSA]
“I just want to reiterate to our OFWs to observe the laws and rules of the country where they work so as not to get into trouble," he said on his radio program “Para Sa Iyo, Bayan."
Vice Consul Roussel Reyes of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh earlier told GMANews.TV that the Filipino men were arrested in an Independence Day “gay pageant" at a private villa in the Saudi capital.
Reyes said arresting officers, who were tipped off by someone who complained of the noise from the villa, saw the Filipinos wearing wigs and women’s clothes.
Some of the cross dressers were locked in embrace with their foreign boyfriends when arresting officers arrived, a local media report said, quoting arresting officers.
It was not the first time that Filipinos have been rounded up en masse for openly engaging in gay activities. At least 50 people were reportedly arrested last year in the Eastern Province for a similar offense.
According to Saudi Arabia's laws, open display of homosexual behavior is strictly prohibited and punishable by fines, imprisonment, or whipping.
Individuals caught wearing even just one article of women’s clothing could face three to six months imprisonment, and suffer between 50 and 100 lashes with a rattan stick.
Reyes said the 69 Filipinos have been released three days after their arrest, but they are already blacklisted by the Saudi Immigration department.
That means they cannot leave the kingdom while their case is being heard in court.
Reyes said he has contacted the Saudi authorities to find out the hearing date of the 69 Filipinos so the embassy can coordinate directly with them.
Not just in Saudi Arabia
De Castro said it is not only in Saudi Arabia, though, where Filipinos have been detained for engaging in gay behavior.
He cited the case of several Filipino transvestites who are now in jail in the eastern Chinese city of Shanghai on prostitution and theft charges.
Citing a report of the Philippine mission in Shanghai, De Castro said police made the arrest following complaints from male expatriates that they were robbed by their Filipino gay partners in hotels or motels.
De Castro said the Philippine Embassy in China is helping the Filipinos in their cases, but warned that such incidents could sap the meager resources of Philippine foreign posts that could be used for more important cases, such as those of abused domestic workers.
“It would be best if before embarking on a job abroad make sure you are physically, mentally, emotionally and psychologically prepared for the job, aware of the new kind of community, culture you will adapt to and the laws and rules you have to follow," De Castro also said in a statement on Friday. - GMANews.TV
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