And while this has been a challenge for Filipinos in other parts of the world, legal assistance other than the Philippine consulate (if there are other specialized lawyers) will incur additional costs that may or may not be a little too high for the regular OFW that typically needs this service. Almazar has lived in Dubai for seven years and is the director of Gulf Law. He has always been recognized as one of the «100 most influential Filipinos» in the region, largely thanks to the free legal advice he gives to his Kababayan (compatriots). The Philippine Consulate General in Dubai is holding free online legal advice for Filipinos in the UAE on June 18, especially for those with credit and family problems. If you cannot reach the service phone of the ATN section (+65 9072 2797), please send an e-mail to atn@philembassysg.com. The open forum will be chaired by Barney Almazar, Director of Gulf Law, who will provide free legal aid and advice on how to deal with loans and debts, as well as bank loans, to approximately 500 people who register for the event. Almazar intends to devote its legal practice to the protection of Filipino migrant workers not only in the UAE, but also in other GCC countries. The National Assistance Section coordinates consular efforts to respond to urgent requests for assistance from Filipino individuals or groups involving primarily the police, immigration and judicial authorities. Such requests will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The measures taken by the ATN section include: Fortunately, Filipinos in the UAE have dedicated professionals who do their duty to help their Kababayan, such as 37-year-old Filipino lawyer Barney Almazar, who provides free legal assistance to the Filipino community in the UAE, as reported by the Khaleej Times.

Last year, Almazar helped a Filipino mother and her three children waive fines totaling AED 712,400. He also provided legal assistance to a Filipino who had fallen into an investment scam. In this context, a court in the United Arab Emirates issued a landmark ruling and ordered the return of AED 1 million to its client, giving hope to thousands of others involved in the multi-million dollar scam. As part of Almazar`s commitment to advocacy, he writes a regular column called «Sagot ka ni Attorney» (loosely translated as «A lawyer will take care of you») for a Filipino weekly circulating in the UAE, and has set up an interactive legal portal called «Ask Atty Barney» for all legal inquiries. including employment. financial and even marital matters. Almazar told the Khaleej Times that this was the first time he had provided online legal advice to Filipinos in the UAE since he provided personal legal assistance in 2013. To attend the event, register for gulflaw@gulflaw.info. The ATN Section also coordinates with non-governmental organizations and government agencies on, inter alia, laws and policies concerning labour, human trafficking and anti-discrimination.

Almazar also helped secure waivers of about AED720,000 in immigration penalties. The ATN region can be reached Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. by calling 213-637-3024. For urgent concerns, Filipinos in distress can call ATN`s mobile phone number at 1-213-587-0758 or the hotline number 1-213-268-9990. You can also send an email to [email protected]. In accordance with the stated policy of the Government to promote and protect the rights and welfare of all Filipinos abroad, it is the responsibility of the Consulate to protect the rights and interests of all needy Filipinos under its jurisdiction (e.g., imprisoned or arrested) within the parameters authorized by the U.S. Government by intervening in its official procedures.

In light of recent incidents involving Filipinos in Singapore, the Embassy of the Philippines has issued the following guidelines to remind all Filipinos residing in Singapore to behave properly and follow the laws and regulations of the host country. READ ALSO: UAE law: Know your rights and responsibilities For the many Filipinos living abroad, it is important to have a voice or representation that always considers and guarantees their rights as a minority (expat). The Department of Citizen Assistance (ATN) of the Philippine Consulate General handles cases involving Filipinos in need. Measures taken by the ATN Section include: List of Local Lawyers The UAE is divided into two parts for consular purposes. The embassy in Abu Dhabi serves the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The Consulate General in Dubai serves the Emirates of Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Um Al-Quwain. The U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi assumes no responsibility for the professional performance or integrity of the individuals or companies listed herein. However, the names were chosen carefully. The law firms listed are listed in alphabetical order, and the order in which they appear has no other meaning. So far, they have helped more than 80,000 people.

Topics range from credit, employment, family issues (child support, divorce) and immigration. «We have cases where credit card debtors have only paid AED 12,000 out of AED1 million in liabilities,» he said. It has also published and distributed 80,000 free copies of a comprehensive travel guide for Filipino expats entitled «The Essential OFW (overseas Filipino workers) Guide to UAE». Regarding his advocacy, Almazar shared that it was his joy to see Filipino Workers (OFWs) reunited with their families back home after the sacrifices and efforts they put into them during their time abroad.