The Department of Migrant Workers is urging Filipinos across the Middle East to think twice before posting or forwarding anything conflict-related on social media, warning that local cybercrime laws carry severe penalties — including imprisonment and deportation — even for those who share content without malicious intent.
The advisory, posted on the DMW’s official Facebook page on April 1, 2026, comes after at least four Filipino nationals were arrested in the region — three in the United Arab Emirates and one in Saudi Arabia — for allegedly circulating videos of airstrikes and missile interceptions online. The arrests followed the outbreak of hostilities involving Iran, Israel, and the United States that began on February 28, 2026.
The department’s message is unambiguous: “Think Before You Click. Iwas sa Fake News, Kabayan!”
Central to the warning is a legal reality many OFWs may not be aware of. Under UAE cybercrime law, claiming no intent to cause harm is not a valid defense. The advisory states plainly: “Kahit mabuti ang iyong hangarin, kapag nag-share o nag-forward ka ng unverified o false information, maaari ka pa ring mapanagot sa batas. Ang mismong pag-share ay maaaring maging criminal offense.”
The penalties are steep. Sharing unverified conflict-related content in the UAE carries a minimum prison sentence of one year and a fine of at least Dh100,000 — roughly PHP 1.6 million or $27,300. Content deemed a threat to national security draws harsher consequences: up to two years in prison and fines of up to Dh200,000. Foreign nationals face deportation on top of any criminal penalties imposed.
The DMW laid out specific guidance on what Filipinos should and should not do. OFWs are told to verify information before sharing it, follow official advisories from host governments and the Philippine Embassy, and report suspicious circulating content to proper authorities. They are warned against forwarding unverified news, photos, or videos — even without harmful intent — and must not capture or upload images and videos of incidents without authorization, or post comments on sensitive events without confirmed details.
DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia confirmed the arrests and said the government is arranging legal support for those detained.
“We will help these OFWs in facing their cases while they’re incarcerated. We respect their laws, we respect their processes, but we will provide for legal assistance. Libre po ang abugado na ibibigay natin sa kanila,” Olalia said.
The advisory carries particular weight given the scale of the Filipino community in the region. An estimated 2.4 million Filipinos live and work across the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE ranking as the top two destinations for OFWs. In 2025, remittances from the region totaled approximately $6.48 billion — about 18 percent of total global OFW remittances for the year.
“Nauunawaan namin ang pangamba dulot ng tensyon sa Middle East. Gayunpaman, mahalagang mag-ingat at mag-verify muna bago mag-click o mag-share sa social media,” the DMW said, adding that violations of host country laws carry penalties regardless of intent.
OFWs may reach the DMW through its official website at dmw.gov.ph, via email at feedback@dmw.gov.ph, or through its social media accounts at @DMWPHL on Facebook, X, YouTube, and TikTok.
