Legal counsel has been deployed and families notified as Manila moves to secure consular access to the detained workers.
The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi has confirmed that two Overseas Filipino Workers are currently in UAE custody following their arrest over videos they allegedly posted relating to recent missile strikes in the country.
In a formal update, the Embassy said it verified the identities and whereabouts of both workers after immediately reaching out to UAE authorities upon learning of the arrests. Retained legal counsel has since been assigned to the two individuals, while their families have been contacted and kept informed of developments.
Access to the detained OFWs remains pending. The Embassy said it has formally requested a consular visit, though approval from competent UAE authorities is still awaited.
No names or case details have been disclosed. The Embassy cited an ongoing investigation and a specific request from the families as grounds for withholding identifying information.
The arrests are part of a broader enforcement action by UAE prosecutors. Across two separate waves of arrests, authorities ordered the detention of at least 35 foreign nationals — including Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Nepalis, and Egyptians — over social media activity deemed harmful to national security. UAE Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has referred those charged to expedited trial on counts that include spreading misinformation and glorifying military aggression against the UAE.
Investigators identified three categories of violations: sharing genuine footage of air defense interceptions with added commentary intended to heighten public anxiety; distributing AI-fabricated scenes of explosions falsely presented as occurring inside the UAE; and circulating content that promoted the actions of the state engaged in hostilities against the country.
Under UAE law, distributing fabricated or misleading security-related content, including AI-generated material, carries criminal penalties that may include imprisonment and substantial fines.
