Interaksyon.com reports that Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Crecente Relacion has reminded Pinoys against "illicit relationships." The ambassador issued the statement as a reaction to "complaints by the Filipino community (in Qatar) about Filipinas in jail." The report said that those convicted of "love cases" serve jail sentences of from one to three years.
Relacion revealed that "90 percent of cases that lead to the detention of Filipino workers here are 'love cases'" and that most women end up in jail when they become pregnant.
"Sex outside of marriage is a criminal offense here," Relacion explained. "Kawawa ang mga babae, kasi (You have to pity the women because) in most cases, the woman covers up the man's sins by telling the court that her partner has already left the country."
Relacion further revealed that incarcerated pregnant mothers "are provided medical care by state authorities and deliver their babies in the hospital." He also said that last month, during the observance of Ramadan, the Qatari government gave clemency to four Filipinas serving jail terms for "love crimes."
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