24 Filipinos Detained In Russia Back In The Philippines after Marcos-Putin Talks

MANILA, June 21 (Bernama-PNA) -- The 24 Filipinos who had been detained in Russia for about nine months arrived safely in the Philippines early Sunday, after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr personally raised their case with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting in Kazan.

The repatriated Filipinos arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in two batches from Bangkok, Thailand, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.

Six arrived shortly after midnight aboard Philippine Airlines Flight PR737, while the remaining 18 landed early Sunday via PAL Flight PR733.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro and Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac personally welcomed the returnees.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the repatriation was carried out in coordination with Russian authorities, with assistance from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Earlier this week, Marcos announced that the Filipinos would soon return home after he raised their situation during a bilateral meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan.

The president thanked Putin and the Russian government for helping resolve the issue.

Marcos said the Filipinos had been detained in the Russian city of Irkutsk in southeastern Siberia for about nine months without formal charges.

Philippine officials earlier said reports indicated that the Filipinos may have fallen victims to illegal recruitment schemes and were taken into custody for possible immigration-related violations.

Government agencies said assistance and reintegration support will be provided to the returning Filipinos as authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding their recruitment and travel to Russia.

-- BERNAMA-PNA