After Marcos-Putin Talks, Russia Frees 24 Filipinos Held for Months Without Charges

In a significant diplomatic development, Russia has released 24 Filipino nationals who had been detained for several months without formal charges in the Siberian city of Irkutsk , following direct intervention by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin .

The group was scheduled to return to the Philippines in two batches on Sunday, marking the end of an ordeal that had lasted nearly nine months . Philippine authorities described the release as a positive outcome of high-level diplomacy conducted on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia commemorative summit in the Russian city of Kazan .

The issue was personally raised by Marcos during his bilateral meeting with Putin on Wednesday. According to Philippine officials, the detainees had been held without charges , and Manila had struggled to obtain clear information regarding their status and wellbeing. The president sought an explanation from Russian authorities and pressed for a resolution.

Speaking after the meeting, Marcos said Putin initially appeared unaware of the situation but assured him that the matter would be examined immediately. Later, during a dinner meeting, the Russian leader reportedly informed the Philippine delegation that the Filipinos had not been charged with any crime and promised that a solution would be found.

Soon afterward, Russian authorities notified Philippine officials that the detainees would be deported and allowed to return home. The swift turnaround was viewed in Manila as a direct result of the diplomatic engagement between the two leaders.

Philippine officials believe some of the Filipinos may have fallen victim to illegal recruitment schemes and subsequently encountered issues related to Russian immigration regulations . However, no formal charges were filed against any of them during their detention.

The release comes despite broader geopolitical differences between the two countries. The Philippines , a key treaty ally of the United States , has previously supported United Nations resolutions criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Nevertheless, the successful resolution of the detainees' case highlighted the role of diplomacy in addressing humanitarian concerns even amid complex international relations.

According to Philippine Ambassador Igor Bailen , approximately 15,000 Filipinos currently live and work across Russia.