MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino fashion designer and his tailor have been sent to jail for cross-dressing at a Dubai Metro station, the Gulf News reported yesterday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it was still verifying the report.
“We’re checking on the cross-dressing thing right now,†DFA spokesman Charles Jose said.
Reports said a policeman caught the 34-year-old designer and 44-year-old tailor wearing women’s clothes and underwear at Al Rigga Metro Station in March.
The Filipinos defended themselves before the Dubai Misdemeanours Court and said they had been accustomed to wearing women’s clothes since childhood, the Gulf News said.
They will be deported following the completion of their jail terms, the report said.
In 2008, Dubai banned cross-dressing in public places as this is against the United Arab Emirates’ traditions and social values.
Data from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas show that there are 931,562 Filipinos in the Muslim country as of December 2012.