50 Filipinos jailed in Saudi, 14 in Kuwait set for release
Mar 03, 2006
Updated 04:54pm (Mla time)
Veronica Uy
INQ7.net
THE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is set to release 50 mostly women overseas Filipino workers as Kuwait pardoned 14 OFWs in jail for “love crimes.”
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said the oil-rich kingdom decided to release the 50 Filipinos jailed for minor offenses as part of the celebration the International Women’s Month this March. Saudi Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, governor of the Riyadh Region, made the goodwill gesture in response to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's request for clemency, Sto. Tomas told reporters Friday.
Their release would cut down the number of jailed OFWs in Saudi to 350, she said, adding that the 50 Filipinos are facing three- to 12-month jail terms for minor offenses like making wine, which is forbidden in the Muslim country.
At the same time, Sto. Tomas said the Kuwaiti government has pardoned 14 Filipinos jailed for “love crimes." Social norms governing relationships are strictly observed in the Muslim country. “They will come home before the end of the month,” she said, adding that President Arroyo would provide them with microfinance loans “so that they don’t have to leave again.”
©2006 www.inq7.net all rights reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment