Russia Releases Detained Filipinos

Russia has released 24 Filipinos who had been held for months without charges in a Siberian city. This follows concerns raised by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his meeting with President Vladimir Putin, according to Philippine officials.

These individuals are expected to arrive in Manila on Sunday morning in two separate flights. Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro will welcome the first group. Lazaro accompanied Marcos for discussions with Putin in Kazan, Russia, on Wednesday, as reported by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.

Marcos, who currently presides over the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), commemorated the 35th anniversary of ASEAN’s diplomatic relations with Russia alongside other leaders of the bloc. He held a bilateral meeting with Putin during the summit.

The release of the Filipinos occurred promptly after Marcos expressed his concerns about their situation. The Philippines stands as a key treaty ally of the United States in Asia and was among the majority of ASEAN countries supporting a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“Don’t worry, we will find a way to fix this problem,” Putin assured Marcos during their dinner.

Marcos informed reporters that he raised concerns over the detained Filipinos, who were held for approximately nine months in Irkutsk, southeastern Siberia. Philippine officials believe they might have been victims of illegal job recruitment and detained due to possible immigration violations.

Putin, initially unaware of the issue, agreed to investigate. Later, Russian officials informed the Philippine delegation of the immediate deportation of the Filipinos back to Manila.

Philippine Ambassador to Moscow, Igor Bailen, estimates about 15,000 Filipinos live and work in Russia.