Russian President Vladimir Putin has authorized the release of 24 Filipinos detained in the city of Irkutsk in Siberia for the past nine months.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the development in a Kapihan press briefing with the Philippine media in Kazan, Russia after the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit.

Marcos said the Filipinos were reportedly detained over immigration issues after they were victimized by illegal recruiters and he was able to brought the issue to Putin’s attention during their bilateral meeting earlier this week.

The Russian President immediately acted on the issue and told him that the 24 Filipinos will be released and ready for deportation by Friday.

“At the gala dinner last night, we talked. He said, ‘We have seen the situation. We found out where the 24 Filipinos are, we found out what the problem is with their case, with their situation.’ First of all, he said they have not been charged with any wrongdoing but they are still being kept in detention for nine months,” Marcos said.

“I remember the last thing he said last night after we were talking about it. ‘Don’t worry, we will find a way. We will find a way to fix this problem.’ And now the 24 Filipinos will be released. They are ready for deportation tomorrow by 5 p.m. So the 24 will be going back to the Philippines, back to their families,” he added.

Marcos said the Philippines had no news about the condition of the 24 detained Filipinos, except that they have not been charged with any offense.

“Noong nag-bilateral meeting kami ni President Putin, binanggit ko ito. At nagulat din siya. Ang sabi niya, ‘Hindi ko alam ‘yan. Pag-aaralan namin, titingnan namin ang nangyari,’” the President said.

(When we had a bilateral meeting with President Putin, I mentioned this. He was also surprised. He said, ‘I am unaware of that. We will study, we will look at what happened.’)

“As a request, especially speaking for the families, kung puwede naman, we can find a way that we get some information about them. Pangalawa, na makahanap naman tayo ng resolution. Siyempre, respetado natin ang batas ng Russia, respetado natin ang kanilang pamahalaan. Ngunit kung may paraan, sana magawan natin,” Marcos added.