President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the government’s commitment to stand by Filipinos wherever they are in the world, saying the welfare of every Filipino remains a top priority through continued diplomatic engagement and government assistance.

“Para kay Pangulong Marcos Jr., palaging una ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipino sa loob man ng bansa o sa ibayong dagat—kahit pa ano’ng kulay ka. Hangga’t may Pilipino, may Pangulong Marcos Jr. na aagapay sa inyo,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a Palace press briefing on Tuesday.

This comes after the successful release and repatriation of 24 Filipinos who had been detained in Russia for nine months.

Castro said Marcos’ personal appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin paved the way for the release and repatriation of 24 Filipinos, noting that Russia did not ask for anything in return.

“Sa bilateral meeting, in-open lang ng Pangulo ang patungkol sa 24 Filipinos na naka-detained sa Russia. And at the time na ito ay nabanggit ng Pangulo…At agad-agad niyang (President Putin) sinabi na patitingnan kung anong estado ng mga kababayan natin doon,” she noted.

“Pinauna niya (Pangulong Marcos) na nirespeto ng Pilipinas ang batas at polisiya ng Russia. Pero naging maganda po ang response ng Russia ni President Putin dahil napauwi agad ang ating mga kababayan,” the official added.

Castro said the successful repatriation underscores the Marcos administration’s continued commitment to protecting the welfare of Filipinos overseas through active diplomacy and constructive engagement with foreign leaders.

“Ang pagpapauwi sa dalawampu’t apat na Pilipino ay isa lamang sa mga matagumpay na pakikipag-ugnayan ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa ibang bansa. Ang pagmamahal ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa mga Pilipino ay hindi sa iisang pagkakataon lamang naipamalas.” Castro added.

She said this was not the first time the President had demonstrated his concern for the welfare of fellow Filipinos.

Castro also cited the administration’s efforts in securing the return of overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso after 15 years of imprisonment in Indonesia.

She likewise pointed to the government’s intervention in the case of 17 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) arrested in Qatar following an unauthorized rally in March 2025. Through diplomatic engagement with Qatari authorities, the administration helped resolve their situation. | Presidential News Desk