24 FILIPINOS DETAINED IN RUSSIA TO FLY HOME AFTER PBBM-PUTIN BILATERAL TALKS

TWENTY-FOUR Pinoys detained by Russian authorities have been released and are scheduled to return to the Philippines on Friday following the bilateral meeting between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan.

President Marcos made the announcement during an interview with Philippine media in Kazan, Russia, after attending the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit.

“I don’t know if people are aware of this, but 24 Filipinos have been in detention in Irkutsk for how many months now? Nine months,” the President said.

“Wala tayong balita. Hindi natin malaman kung ano na ang kalagayan nila. As far as we know, hindi naman sila nakasuhan,” President Marcos added.

The President said he raised the situation of the 24 Filipinos under detention in Russia during his bilateral meeting with President Vladimir Putin, who indicated that he had not been previously apprised of the matter.

“Noong nag-bilateral meeting kami ni President Putin, binanggit ko ito. At nagulat din siya. Sabi niya, hindi ko alam ‘yan. Pag-aaralan namin. Titingnan namin ang nangyayari,” President Marcos said.

President Marcos added that later, during a dinner with fellow leaders, President Putin provided him with an update on the whereabouts and status of the Filipino nationals.

“Noong dinner kagabi, kinausap niya ako, sabi niya, nakita na namin ‘yung sitwasyon. We found out where the 24 Filipinos are. We found out what the problem is with their case, with their situation’,” the President noted.

President Marcos emphasized that the 24 Filipinos “have not been charged with any wrongdoing, but they have still been kept in detention for nine months.”

According to President Marcos, he asked President Putin if there was a way to obtain information about them and find a solution to their case.

“So, I said as a request, especially speaking for the families, kung puwede naman, we can find a way that they be – that we get some information about them,” the President noted.

“Siyempre, respetado natin ang batas ng Russia. Respetado natin ang kanilang pamahalaan. Ngunit kung may paraan, sana magawan natin. And nagkaroon ng – ginawan na ng paraan,” said President Marcos.

“And now, the 24 Filipinos will be released. They are ready for deportation tomorrow at 5 p.m. So, those 24 will be going home, back to the Philippines, and back to their families.”

President Marcos was in Russia for the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit and for bilateral talks with Putin.