Russia frees 24 Filipinos after Ferdinand Marcos Jr raised case with Vladimir Putin

Russian authorities freed 24 Filipinos held for months without charges in Siberia, Philippine officials said on Saturday. The release followed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr raising the issue with President Vladimir Putin. Officials said the Filipinos were detained in the city of Irkutsk in south-eastern Siberia for about nine months.

Representative image

The 24 Filipinos were due to land in Manila on two flights early Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The first group was set to be received by Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro. Theresa Lazaro joined Marcos during talks with Putin on Wednesday in the Russian city of Kazan.

Filipinos detained in Russia after Marcos raises concern

Marcos said the Philippine side had limited information about the detainees’ condition. Marcos told reporters the concern was raised during a bilateral meeting with Putin on the sidelines of a summit in Kazan. The release came soon after Wednesday’s discussion, according to Philippine officials.

Philippine officials cited reports that the Filipinos may have faced illegal job recruitment. The same officials said the group may have been taken into custody in Russia over possible immigration law violations. No formal charges were filed, based on what Marcos later relayed to reporters.

Putin told Marcos that Putin was not aware of the matter, Marcos said. Putin also promised to check, according to Marcos. "Dont worry, we will find a way to fix this problem,\" Marcos quoted Putin as saying. Marcos also said Putin mentioned over dinner that no wrongdoing charges existed.

Russia and ASEAN summit shapes handling of Filipinos detained in Russia

Marcos attended the Kazan gathering while holding the rotating presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Marcos led leaders of the 11-nation bloc in marking 35 years of ASEAN diplomatic ties with Russia. Marcos also met Putin separately during the event, Philippine officials said.

The Philippines remains a treaty ally of the United States in Asia. It also joined many ASEAN members in backing a UN General Assembly resolution criticising Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Singapore was the only ASEAN member to impose sanctions on Russia, and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong joined the Kazan summit.

Marcos said Russian officials later informed the Philippine delegation that the Filipinos would be deported immediately to Manila. Philippine Ambassador to Moscow Igor Bailen said about 15,000 Filipinos live and work across Russia. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the return flights early Sunday completed the release process.

With inputs from PTI