Twenty-four Filipinos detained in Russia for nearly nine months are expected to return to the Philippines on June 21 following the intervention of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The Philippine Embassy in Moscow reported that the group had left Krasnoyarsk aboard Aeroflot Flight SU 814 bound for Bangkok, Thailand, where they will receive assistance before boarding connecting flights to Manila.
Six of the overseas Filipinos are scheduled to arrive at NAIA Terminal 1 aboard Philippine Airlines Flight PR 737 at 12:05 a.m., while the remaining 18 will arrive on Flight PR 733 at 4:05 a.m.
The Filipinos had been held in Irkutsk without formal charges. Their release was announced by Marcos Jr. on June 19 after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia summit.
Marcos Jr. said he personally raised the matter with Putin, who later informed him that Russian authorities reviewed the case and confirmed that the Filipinos were not charged with any offense.
Following the review, Russian authorities facilitated their release and deportation, allowing them to finally return home and reunite with their families.IMT
