DND to look into cases of 3 Filipinos convicted for espionage in Qatar

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Department of National Defense (DND) will look into the cases of three overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were convicted for espionage and economic sabotage against Qatar government, a senior government official said today.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview over a state-run radio station that the DND was surely be aware of the report and "will be taking necessary actions."

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that three OFWs in Qatar were found guilty of espionage and economic sabotage.

One of the OFWs was sentenced to death, while the two others would serve life imprisonment.

Valte said that the Philippine government will render legal assistance to the Filipino who was sentenced to death.

"Normally, I think in cases where there is death sentence or execution by either lethal injection or other means, we file an appeal," she said.

Reports from Qatar said that the three were convicted for passing along military and economic secrets to the Philippine government.

According to Doha News, the Filipino who is facing death penalty was reportedly "a lieutenant in the Philippine state security force working as a budgeting and contracting supervisor at large state-owned Qatari company," while the other two were " technicians working with the Qatar Air Force."

The three reportedly committed the offenses between 2009 and 2010.