MANILA, Philippines — Russia has released 24 Filipinos who had been detained for months without charges in Siberia, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s direct intervention during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Philippine officials said.
The 24 Filipinos are scheduled to return to Manila in two flights, with the first group expected to arrive early Sunday and be received by Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro, according to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Lazaro was part of the Philippine delegation that accompanied Marcos during his diplomatic engagements in Kazan, Russia.
The release came shortly after Marcos raised concerns about their situation during a bilateral meeting with Putin on Wednesday, where he said the Filipinos had been detained for about nine months in Irkutsk, southeastern Siberia, without formal charges. Marcos said Philippine authorities had limited information on their condition at the time.
According to Philippine officials, the detained workers were believed to have been victims of illegal recruitment schemes and were later held in connection with possible immigration violations in Russia. The DFA has not released additional details on the specific circumstances of their arrest.
During their meeting, Putin reportedly told Marcos he was not previously aware of the case but would look into it. Marcos later said the Russian leader assured him during an informal dinner that the Filipinos had not been charged with any wrongdoing and that steps would be taken to resolve the matter. Russian authorities subsequently informed the Philippine delegation that the group would be deported to the Philippines.
The Philippines maintains that approximately 15,000 of its nationals live and work in Russia, according to Philippine Ambassador to Moscow Igor Bailen. The country has also continued to engage diplomatically with Russia despite broader geopolitical tensions stemming from Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which the United Nations General Assembly condemned in a resolution supported by most ASEAN members, including the Philippines.
The release of the Filipino nationals underscores ongoing concerns over overseas workers’ protection and illegal recruitment, an issue that remains a key policy focus for Philippine authorities as they monitor labor conditions abroad.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
