Russia Releases 24 Filipinos Following Marcos-putin Dialogue

WHO:

AP News - Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro welcomed the first batch of released Filipinos.

CBS News - Philippine President Marcos, Russian President Putin

ABC News - 24 Filipinos

WHAT:

AP News - The 24 Filipinos were scheduled to arrive in Manila in two flights early Sunday.

CBS News - Russia has freed 24 Filipinos who were detained for months without charges.

ABC News - The Filipinos were reportedly victims of illegal job recruitment.

WHERE:

AP News - The Filipinos were detained in the city of Irkutsk in southeastern Siberia.

CBS News - The Filipinos were detained in Siberia.

WHY:

CBS News - Philippine officials indicated that the Filipinos may have been victims of illegal job recruitment.

HOW:

AP News - Marcos quoted Putin as saying, “Don’t worry, we will find a way to fix this problem.”

ABC News - The release followed talks between Philippine President Marcos and Russian President Putin.

(UPDATED June 20, 2026 23:21 UTC)

Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro has welcomed the first batch of released Filipinos, with 24 individuals scheduled to arrive in Manila on two flights early Sunday. These Filipinos were previously detained in the city of Irkutsk, located in southeastern Siberia. President Marcos quoted Putin as saying, “Don’t worry, we will find a way to fix this problem.”

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(UPDATED June 20, 2026 19:21 UTC)

Russia has freed 24 Filipinos who had been detained for months without charges in Siberia, with Philippine officials suggesting they may have been victims of illegal job recruitment. This release came after discussions between Philippine President Marcos and Russian President Putin. The situation highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of individuals caught in illegal employment schemes abroad.