TWENTY-FOUR Filipino workers detained for nine months in Yakutsk, Russia, returned to the Philippines after being released by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the request of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro welcomed the returnees who arrived in two batches on Philippine Airlines flights from Thailand Sunday morning.
The Filipinos were detained over immigration issues after being victimized by illegal recruiters.
Concerned about their welfare, Marcos raised their case with Putin during their meeting on the sidelines of the Asean-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan on June 17.
Russian authorities facilitated the workers’ release on June 19, "bringing an end to months of uncertainty for them and their families," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Sunday.
The president thanked Putin "for his positive response and to the Russian authorities for their cooperation in resolving the matter," the DFA said in a statement.
The Philippine Embassy in Moscow said that throughout the nine-month-long case, it "maintained regular communication with the Filipinos and their families, conducted welfare visits, engaged relevant Russian authorities."
The embassy also coordinated with the DFA and other concerned government agencies to bring home the Filipinos.
The Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration provided assistance throughout the repatriation process.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the freedom granted to the 24 Filipinos by Putin was one of the most significant achievements of Marcos’ recent visit to Russia.
"24 souls, 24 families — most of all, 24 Filipinos who would still be languishing in an eastern Siberian jail, probably for the rest of their lives — one of the biggest achievements of the president’s visit to Russia that almost escaped public notice and appreciation. Thank you!" Lacson wrote on X.
