Russia Frees 24 Filipinos Detained in Siberia After Marcos Jr.-Putin Talks

Twenty-four Filipino citizens, detained for months without charges in a remote Siberian city, are returning home after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally intervened during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The group had been held in Irkutsk for approximately nine months, facing no formal charges. Philippine officials suggest they were likely victims of illegal labor brokering before being detained for immigration violations. Marcos Jr., attending an ASEAN summit in Kazan, raised the issue directly with Putin on Wednesday. Initially, Putin stated he was unaware of the situation but promised to investigate. Later that evening, during a dinner, he informed the Filipino president that the detainees were not facing criminal prosecution and assured him, "Don't worry, we will find a way to solve the problem." Shortly thereafter, Russian authorities informed the Philippine delegation that the 24 individuals would be immediately deported to Manila. Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin Jr. is expected to meet the first group of released individuals upon their arrival. The Philippines, a strategic U.S. ally in Asia, has voted in favor of UN resolutions condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, though Singapore remains the only ASEAN member to impose sanctions on Moscow. According to the Philippine ambassador to Moscow, Igor Bailen, approximately 15,000 Filipinos live and work in various regions of Russia.

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Don't worry, we will find a way to solve the problem.