Five close friends who are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), were detained after their social media video post was reported.
According to a report by Mariz Umali on “24 Oras,” the friends uploaded a video on TikTok on March 12, 2023, which was intended to be a harmless joke. Unfortunately, their innocent prank led to their imprisonment when someone reported their actions to the authorities.
“Ako po ay humihingi ng tulong sa ating embahada, napagkamalan po silang prostitute,” the sibling of one of the OFWs said.
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Toots Ople provided details about the case of the OFWs.
“They have been arrested they were brought to jail and may case number na at hihintayin na lang natin yung schedule ng court hearings sa sharjah court. Meron na silang legal retainer na nakuha para irepresent itong karapatan nitong ating limang OFWs sa korte,” said Ople.
5 OFWs jailed in UAE due to TikTok video
Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy and Labor Attaché in the UAE are scheduled to discuss the case of the five OFWs with their employer and are also taking steps to visit them.
According to Ople, the case has already been referred for prosecution and they are just waiting for the schedule of the court hearing. However, based on the UAE’s cybercrime law, our fellow Filipinos may face a possible penalty of a fine and imprisonment of up to five years for their actions.
Meanwhile, the UAE’s Philippine Embassy and Labor Attaché are scheduled to discuss the case of the five OFWs with their employer and are also taking steps to visit them.
According to Ople, the case has already been referred for prosecution and they are just waiting for the court hearing schedule. However, based on the UAE’s cybercrime law, our fellow Filipinos may face a possible penalty of a fine and imprisonment of up to five years for their actions.
“UAE is strictly implementing its cyberlaw and is also very sensitive to actions against their customs and morality. Iba ang kultura nila eh so we have to be very very respectful,” she said.
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