DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Three Filipinas facing illegal drug charges in Dubai are receiving help from the Philippine government, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.
The DFA, in a press statement, said the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai identified the Filipinos as Crizelda Empleo, Jackie Lou Jabate and Rhoda Guisingam, who are accused of trafficking the hallucinogen Tramadol.
"An experienced and competent Bahraini lawyer hired by the Consulate will represent the Filipinas in today’s hearing," Consul General Benito Valeriano said.
Mohammed Pukunum, head of the Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) section of the Consulate, attended an earlier court hearing on the case last January 2.
Guisinga, Jabate, and Empleo were arrested inside the Hamarain Mall last November 10, according to the DFA.
The trio went to the mall where Guisinga told her friends she had to meet an Egyptian.
She was arrested by Dubai police, who later found a red plastic bag allegedly with illegal drugs in her possession. The bag was allegedly handed over by the Egyptian.
Jabate and Empleo were waiting for Guisinga when were also arrested by Dubai police officers.
Guisinga was charged with possession of illegal drugs while Jabate and Empleo were both charged with criminal complicity or "accessory to possession of illegal drugs."
The 3 Filipinas are on "visit visas" and are not overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the DFA said.
The Consulate's ATN officers regularly visit the Filipinas at the Al Muraqqabat police station where they are detained and have given them consular and legal assistance, it added.
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