MANILA – Three Filipino teenagers who were detained in Qatar for participating in unauthorized protests last week have been released, while 16 others remain in police custody and may face up to three years in detention if found guilty of violating local laws, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday.

The 19 Filipinos were arrested after holding demonstrations protesting the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Three of the protesters were minors, teenagers, and they have already been freed. However, their mother remains in police custody,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told reporters.

Authorities in Qatar are still investigating the remaining detainees. “If the police are satisfied with their explanations, they will be released. If not, they will be charged,” De Vega said, adding that there have been no reports of bail being an option in this case.

Qatar’s Law No. 18 of 2004 strictly prohibits unauthorized protests, requiring government approval for any public gatherings or demonstrations.

The female protesters were questioned over the weekend, while male detainees were expected to face police interrogations later in the day. De Vega noted that the process might take longer due to the Ramadan season, which shortens working hours in Muslim countries.

“It’s not unusual, nor does it mean that Qatar is specifically targeting Filipinos,” he clarified. “This is the Middle East. Legal processes here take time. The system of laws in Qatar is different from what we have in the Philippines or in Western-influenced countries.”

The DFA is hopeful that all 16 Filipinos still in custody will be released within the next week and will only face fines rather than formal charges.

“At this point, we have no repatriation plans because they are still in police custody. Our goal is for them to be released and allowed to return to their jobs,” De Vega said.

If convicted, the protesters could face up to three years in detention, though De Vega expressed hope that they would not be imprisoned. “They were not causing trouble, but there is a possibility they may face deportation,” he added.

The DFA also issued a reminder to overseas Filipinos to respect the laws of their host countries before participating in demonstrations.

“We understand that emotions are involved, but you are there to work. You don’t want to lose your jobs, both for yourselves and for your families,” De Vega advised.

He urged Filipinos to follow local authorities’ instructions to avoid legal trouble. “If you want to express political views, there are elections. Register for absentee voting—that is one way to make your voices heard as Filipino citizens without risking imprisonment.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers has dispatched a lawyer to Doha to assist the affected overseas Filipino workers.