Putin orders release of 24 Filipinos detained in Russia — Marcos

President Marcos said Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the release of 24 Filipinos who have been detained in the Russian city of Irkutsk in Siberia for the past nine months over immigration issues. Speaking to reporters before concluding his visit to Russia on Thursday, June 18, Marcos said he personally raised the plight of the Filipinos during his bilateral meeting with Putin. “Nagulat din siya. Sabi niya, ‘Hindi ko alam ‘yan. Pag-aaralan namin. Titingnan namin ang nangyayari’ (He was also surprised and said, ‘I didn’t know about that. We will study it. We will look into what is happening’),” he told reporters. Marcos said Putin later updated him on the matter during a dinner for ASEAN leaders. “Sabi niya (He told me), ‘We found out where the 24 Filipinos are. We found out what the problem was with their case—with their situation. First of all, they have not been charged with any wrongdoing. But they have still been kept in detention for nine months,'” he said. The President said he appealed to Putin, particularly on behalf of the families of the detainees. “So, I said, ‘As the request, especially speaking for the families. Kung pwede naman (If possible), we can find a way that they be… that we get some information about them,'” he said. Marcos said he also sought a resolution to the situation while respecting Russian laws and processes. The President recalled that Putin assured him that the matter would be addressed. “I remember the last thing he said last night after we were talking about it, he said, ‘Don’t worry, we will find a way to fix this problem,'” Marcos said. “And now, the 24 Filipinos will be released. They are ready for deportation tomorrow by 5 p.m. So those 24 will be going home, back to the Philippines and back to their families,” he added. Reports said the 24 Filipinos were allegedly victimized by illegal recruiters who brought them to Russia under questionable arrangements, resulting in their prolonged detention. The President’s announcement came on the final day of his trip to Russia for the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit, during which he also held bilateral talks with Putin on food security, energy cooperation, trade, and investment. The release of the 24 Filipinos marked one of the immediate outcomes of Marcos’ first visit to Russia and his first face-to-face meeting with the Russian leader.