Russia vows no crackdown on undocumented Filipinos


BY DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ
OCTOBER 07, 2019
The Russian government has given assurances that it will not carry out a crackdown on about 10,000 undocumented Filipinos in consideration of their hardships back home, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Sunday.
The President said the plight of Filipinos in Russia was one of the issues discussed during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Alam ng Russia (Russia is aware). Russia has a very good government. Efficient ‘yan eh, alam nila. Pero sabi nila na, ‘Hindi naman kami manghuhuli (We will not make arrests). We know the problem, your plight, alam namin gaano kahirap sa Pilipinas (We know how hard life is in the Philippines),” Duterte said as he addressed the Filipino community in Moscow on Saturday.
HIGHEST DEGREE President Rodrigo Duterte dons the robe and toga after receiving an honorary doctorate degree from Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) University Vice Rector Artem Malgin during a ceremony at MGIMO University in Moscow, Russia on October 5. MALACAÑANG PHOTO
The President asked the undocumented Filipinos to renew their passports and to reapply for a legal status.
He also appealed to Filipinos to abide by Russia’s laws and to stay away from trouble.
Duterte thanked Putin for looking after and securing the welfare of Filipinos in Russia.
“I would like to thank President Putin and the Russian government and the people of Russia for being so nice at hindi kayo pinahirapan (that they are not giving you a hard time),” he said.

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