MANILA — Twenty-four Filipinos detained in Russia’s Siberian region for nearly nine months despite facing no criminal charges are set to return home after Russian President Vladimir Putin personally ordered action on their case following an appeal from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Marcos announced that the Filipinos, who had been held in Irkutsk over immigration-related issues after allegedly being recruited illegally, would be released and deported to the Philippines after Russian authorities reviewed their situation.
Speaking to Filipino journalists in Kazan after the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit, the President said Putin informed him that Russian officials had located the detainees, examined their case, and determined that they had not committed any crime.
“Noong dinner kagabi, kinausap niya ako. Sabi niya, ‘Nakita na namin ang sitwaşyon. We found out where the 24 Filipinos are, we found out what the problem is with their case, with their situation.’ First of all, he said they have not been charged with any wrongdoing but they are still being kept in detention for nine months,” Marcos said.
The President said Putin later assured him that the issue would be resolved.
“I remember the last thing he said last night after we were talking about it. ‘Don’t worry, we will find a way. We will find a way to fix this problem.’ And now the 24 Filipinos will be released. They are ready for deportation tomorrow by 5 p.m. So the 24 will be going back to the Philippines, back to their families,” he added.
According to Marcos, Philippine authorities had struggled to obtain complete information about the welfare and status of the Filipinos while they were in detention, although Russian officials confirmed that no charges had been filed against them.
The President said he first raised the issue during his bilateral meeting with Putin earlier this week.
“Noong nag-bilateral meeting kami ni President Putin, binanggit ko ito. At nagulat din siya. Ang sabi niya, ‘Hindi ko alam ‘yan. Pag-aaralan namin, titingnan namin ang nangyari,’” the President said.
Marcos said his request to the Russian leader centered on obtaining information about the detainees and finding a legal and humanitarian solution that would allow them to reunite with their families.
“As a request, especially speaking for the families, kung puwede naman, we can find a way that we get some information about them. Pangalawa, na makahanap naman tayo ng resolution. Siyempre, respetado natin ang batas ng Russia, respetado natin ang kanilang pamahalaan. Ngunit kung may paraan, sana magawan natin,” Marcos added.
The Filipinos are expected to be deported from Russia once processing is completed and will be reunited with their families in the Philippines.
Their detention reportedly stemmed from immigration violations linked to alleged illegal recruitment schemes that brought them to Russia./PN
