Metro Manila, Philippines – Two Filipinos have been reportedly arrested in the United Arab Emirates over posting and sharing videos and other online content related to the recent attacks and air defense interceptions in Dubai.
In a joint statement on Sunday, March 15, the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai said they are closely monitoring the reports and have sought official confirmation and further details from UAE authorities.
Information requested from UAE counterparts include identity, status, and the legal circumstances of any Filipino nationals involved.
“The Philippine Embassy and Consulate General fully respect the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates and its right to enforce its national security, cybercrime, and public order laws,” read the statement.
The UAE Attorney-General has ordered the arrest of 35 individuals of various nationalities over the weekend, according to the Emirates News Agency.
The accused face urgent trial for allegedly posting video clips with misleading and fabricated content, including material that “harms national defense measures and glorifies acts of military aggression against the State,” state media reported.
Philippine authorities reminded Filipinos in the UAE to “exercise utmost caution and responsibility” online, noting that publishing or sharing misleading security-related content carries criminal liability in the Gulf nation.
“Filipinos are advised to refrain from recording, posting, forwarding, or commenting on unverified or sensitive security-related content; to avoid spreading rumors or speculative information and to rely only on official announcements of UAE authorities and credible news sources for information on ongoing security situations,” said the diplomatic missions.
“The safety and welfare of Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates remain a prime concern of the Philippine government,” they said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs reported around 975,000 Filipinos in the UAE — the largest Filipino population in the Middle East — when the US-Israel and Iran conflict broke out on Feb. 28.
Over 1,000 Filipinos in the Middle East have been repatriated as the conflict enters its third week.
