Marcos trip secures release of 24 Filipinos from Russia detention

DEEPER TIES WITH MOSCOW President Marcos meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The two leaders also discussed the possibility of further economic cooperation. —PRESIDENTIALCOMMUNICATIONS OFFICE PHOTO

Twenty-four Filipinos detained in the Siberian city of Irkutsk in Russia will be repatriated to the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced Friday on social media at the end of his working visit in the city of Kazan, where Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations held a two-day summit.

The Filipinos were reportedly victims of various illegal recruitment schemes. No charges have yet been filed against them.

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READ: Marcos invites Putin to finally visit Manila

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“We have already looked into the situation. We found out where the 24 Filipinos are. We found out what the problem is with their case, with their situation,” the President said, adding that he “brought up” their detention in Russia’s region of Siberia “when I had a bilateral meeting with [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin” on Wednesday.

“(Putin) was also surprised. He said, ‘I didn’t know that. We will look into it. We will examine what’s happening,’” Mr. Marcos said.

“After nine months in detention, [the] 24 Filipinos in Russia will finally be on their way home to be reunited with their families,” the President said. “I thanked President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation for their assistance and cooperation in bringing this matter to a positive resolution.”

Mr. Marcos also took the occasion to invite Putin to the 21st East Asia Summit in Manila in November.

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‘Understanding’ on energy

He said the Philippines has yet to secure an energy cooperation deal with Russia, but Moscow is “very open” to proposals in that regard.

“In terms of energy, there have been no firm agreements, but merely an understanding that we will continue to develop what we have already started in crisis, which we are hoping to come to an end soon,” the President said.

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Mr. Marcos quoted the Russian leader as saying there is “good potential” for cooperation between the two countries in agriculture and energy, among other industries.

The Philippines has been sourcing petroleum products from Russia on an “ad hoc basis” since the global fuel crisis triggered by the Iran war.

In April, Washington cleared Manila’s purchase of Russian crude and other goods sanctioned by the United States since the war on Ukraine in 2022.

According to government data, 97 percent of petroleum products are imported from Asian refineries.

Mr. Marcos said the government will continue to look for “nontraditional” partners in fuel supply.

“There was no real system in place. Now we are beginning to put that system in place and I think it will be very good for the Philippines to have another assured lifeline of petroleum products,” he said.

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Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said Friday the government also seeks to launch an “aggressive” fuel transition plan intended to reduce the country’s reliance on imported oil.