doha • Many Filipinos in Qatar opt not to let others borrow their mobile phones, having been alerted by a recent case involving mobile ‘abuse’.

Recently, a Filipino resident in Qatar was jailed for a month for lending his mobile phone to another resident who used it to verbally harass a woman, a Philippine-based newspaper reported.

The case happened two years ago and the Filipino thought it was already resolved after settling it with the local police upon payment of a QR250 fine, his wife was quoted as saying. In April, however, when he was about to take a vacation, he was held at the airport and was informed his case was still active, and later sentenced to one month in prison with QR3,000 fine. He completed his jail term this month, but could not be released since he could not pay the fine, the newspaper said.

Out of the ten Filipinos interviewed by The Peninsula yesterday, five said they wouldn’t lend their mobile phones to strangers, and two said they would, while three said it depends.

Pedro Alforte, a Filipino resident, dismissed the idea of lending one's mobile phone to another saying that a mobile phone is someone's personal property.

“Having somebody use your cell phone is an invasion of privacy, and at the same time it can get you into trouble, so I won't let anybody use my cell phone for his personal calls,” another resident remarked.

“It depends on the situation. As long as I can see the borrower and hear what he is saying, it is all right," Marlon, another resident said.

Rey Hermoso, a Filipino working in Ras Laffan, said it’s fine to lend one’s cellphone to help somebody in need specially during emergencies.

Qatar imposes regulation in SIM use. An applicant has to fill out a form and submit a copy of his Residence ID to purchase a SIM card, which makes it easy for authorities to trace a call during investigations.