President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced on Friday, June 19, 2026, that 24 Filipinos who had been detained in Russia for nine months have been ordered released by the Russian government and are ready to return to the Philippines.
This came after Marcos raised the situation of the detained Filipinos, victims of illegal recruitment, during a bilateral meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Kazan, Russia. In a Facebook post, Marcos expressed his gratitude to Putin for assistance in resolving the case.
“I thank President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation for their assistance and cooperation in bringing this matter to a positive resolution,” Marcos said. The Filipinos were detained in 2025 after falling victim to illegal recruitment schemes aimed at entering Russia.
Marcos told reporters that when he raised the issue with Putin, the Russian leader was unaware of the situation and promised to investigate. “We found out where the 24 Filipinos are. We found out what the problem is with their case, with their situation. And first of all, you said, they have not been charged with any wrongdoing? But they have still been kept in detention for nine months,” Marcos recounted during his meeting with Putin.
