Russia has released 24 Filipinos who had been detained for several months in a Siberian city without charges, following concerns raised by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Philippine officials said.
The workers arrived in Manila on Sunday aboard two separate flights, with the first group welcomed by Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro, who had accompanied Marcos during his meeting with Putin on the sidelines of a regional summit in Kazan earlier in the week.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac received the remaining group before dawn, providing assistance to the returnees after their detention in a remote Russian region known for harsh winter conditions.
According to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, Marcos raised the case directly with Putin during their bilateral talks, expressing concern over the Filipinos who had reportedly been held for around nine months in Irkutsk without formal charges.
Philippine officials said there were indications the workers may have been victims of illegal recruitment and later detained for possible immigration violations. Their exact conditions during detention were not immediately clear.
Marcos said Putin told him he was initially unaware of the case but pledged to investigate and resolve the matter. The Russian president later assured the Philippine delegation that the workers had not been charged with any wrongdoing and would be processed for release.
“Don’t worry, we will find a way to fix this problem,” Marcos quoted Putin as saying.
Following the discussions, Russian authorities informed the Philippine side that the group would be deported to Manila.
The Philippines, a key US treaty ally in Asia, has maintained diplomatic engagement with Moscow despite divisions within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations over Russia’s war in Ukraine. Marcos currently chairs ASEAN, which marked the 35th anniversary of ties with Russia during the Kazan summit.
About 15,000 Filipinos are estimated to be living and working in Russia, according to Philippine diplomatic figures.
