Two hundred twenty Filipinos detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were granted pardons in celebration of the country’s 53rd National Day, according to Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro.
The pardons, announced on December 26, 2024, highlight the strong ties between the Philippines and the UAE. Lazaro noted that the gesture stemmed from the meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in November.
The UAE traditionally grants pardons on its National Day, celebrated every December 2. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi are now working on the necessary documents to facilitate the repatriation of the pardoned individuals.
This follows a similar act of clemency earlier this year when 143 detained Filipinos were released during Eid al-Adha in June.
