Filipinos Detained In Russia Back In The Philippines after Marcos-Putin Talks

Filipinos detained in Russia have returned to the Philippines after talks involving President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The 24 Filipinos, held in Russia for about nine months, arrived in Manila early Sunday, after Marcos raised their case during a bilateral meeting in Kazan. Philippine News Agency reports say they arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in two batches from Bangkok, Thailand: six on Philippine Airlines Flight PR737 shortly after midnight, and 18 on PAL Flight PR733 early Sunday. Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro and Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac welcomed the returnees. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the repatriation was coordinated with Russian authorities with support from the Department of Migrant Workers and OWWA. Earlier, officials said the group was detained in Irkutsk in southeastern Siberia without formal charges, amid reports of possible illegal recruitment.