Dubai: The Philippine consulate in Dubai has expressed concern over some of its nationals who engage in acts considered ‘immoral’ in the UAE, even those resulting in children being born out of wedlock and left in the care of friends.
Approximately one in 10 cases the consulate handles falls under the so-called “love cases” — a general term they use for sex outside marriage and extra-marital affairs — and undocumented children.
In 2013, the consulate handled “several love cases” and less than 10 undocumented/abandoned children. Undocumented children are those whose paternal affiliation still needs to be established because they are born out of wedlock. Abandoned children are those whose biological parents have gone missing after leaving them in the care of friends. Often, these custodians lose contact with the child’s parents and decide to legally adopt the child instead.
Although the number is relatively low compared to the other cases the consulate handles, Consul Giovanni Palec said educating Filipinos on the “dos and don’ts” on the socio-cultural norms and laws of the UAE is necessary.
“We will adopt a measure to educate Filipinos here on the common problems they face and to go about living here to protect their rights and interests,” Palec told Gulf News.
Punishment
A couple who engages in consensual sex in the UAE could face between one month and one year imprisonment followed by deportation. If the affair results in pregnancy, the offence is considered a crime and the couple may face imprisonment.
“Abandoning children is not part of our culture. Perhaps those few who did it were already desperate because they were caught in a difficult situation,” Consul-General Frank Cimafranca said.
Cimafranca advised Filipinos to avoid getting into trouble in the UAE by knowing and respecting the laws of the land. A cultural disconnect exists because some practices that are relatively tolerated in the Philippines such as living together are not acceptable and are considered an offence here.
“What we advise them is to face the consequences of their action so it wouldn’t lead to a bigger problem. They can come to us and we will endorse them to the police to process them because that’s only when we can step in to legally assist them,” Cimafranca said.
Nhel Morona of Migrante-UAE, a migrant rights group that helps Filipinos in need in the UAE, said the incidence of love cases and undocumented children among Filipinos is alarming especially since residents only seek help at the last minute.
Last resort
“They come to us when the problem has already become complicated — either they’ve lost their jobs in the process or they’ve already given birth to the child rendering the child undocumented,” Morona told Gulf News.
Morona said his group handled 10 cases of undocumented children — aged between five months and two years — in 2013. Six of the cases were processed and availed of the amnesty in February. Four are still awaiting resolution.
The same is true at the consulate. Palec said they are only notified of the problem when the child reaches around five years of age because s/he needs documents to go to school.
