PRESIDENT DUTERTE TO SEEK PARDON FOR 3 FILIPINOS CONVICTED OF ESPIONAGE IN QATAR

President Duterte is expected to seek pardon for three Filipinos convicted of espionage in Qatar during his visit.

The President’s appeal may be made even after the reduction of the court sentences handed to the three Filipinos, according to Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Alan Timbayan.

Timbayan said the death sentence of a Filipino convicted spy was already reduced to life imprisonment on appeal by a Doha court two years ago.

The life imprisonment sentences against two other Filipinos have already been reduced to 15 years in jail.

“We are hopeful that during the visit of the President, we will also request the pardon,” Timbayan said in a media interview at the Philippine embassy in Qatar, adding the Department of Foreign Affairs has already informed the President about the cases of the three Filipinos in jail.

“They have served (part of) their sentence, seven years in prison,” Timbayan added.

Timbayan said the President’s action will be “in the interest of Filipino workers who are prison.”