Manila, July 29 -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has granted a "humanitarian pardon" on at least 68 Filipino detainees, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Tuesday.

The agency said the UAE government made the decision on the occasion of the celebration of Eid al-adha last month.

"This generous and benevolent gesture is a testament to the robust bilateral relations between the Philippines and the UAE, and a lasting gift to the families of the pardoned Filipinos," it said.

The DFA, meanwhile, has yet to provide further details about the release of the Filipinos.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reported that more than 600 Filipinos convicted for different off...