DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                             2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                        Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-036-07                                                                                                                                                            22 January 2007
TWO FILIPINOS GRANTED PARDON IN UAE

22 January 2007 –Consul General Vicente V. Bandillo of the Philippine Consulate General in Abu Dhabi reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that two Filipino nationals convicted of narcotics-related crimes have been pardoned in the United Arab Emirates as a result of representations made by the Consulate. 

According to Consul General Bandillo, His Highness Sheik Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, pardoned Editha E. Dagdag, the only Filipina serving a life sentence at the Dubai Central Jail, in time for the Eid Al Adha, UAE’s National Day. 

OFW Christian Albert Garcia, convicted in 2003 and serving a life sentence in the Emirate of Sharjah, was likewise granted pardon by His Highness Sheik Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah, on the occasion of Ramadhan. 

Both are to be issued their travel documents for their repatriation to Manila. 

Nine other Filipinos were pardoned in Dubai by the Ruler of Dubai last December 2006 on the occasion of the Ramadhan and UAE’s National Day.  The pardon of convicts represented a goodwill and humanitarian gesture granted during special occasions.  END

/jay

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