Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy will not be deported yet and will remain in the custody of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), said Jonvic Remulla, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Remulla further clarified that there will be no special treatment for the vlogger while the pending trial is ongoing.. The now-well-acknowledged social media star was criticized for potentially harassing and insulting Filipinos via live stream, an act that, according to Remulla, deserves legal recourse.
“Doon muna siya mananatili sa Bureau of Immigration detention facility sa Muntinlupa habang siya ay naghihintay ng paglitis sa kanya rito. Hindi po namin siya ide-deport. Mananagot siya sa batas dito sa Pilipinas,” Remulla said at a press conference.
“Tapos na po ang mga dayuhan na kaya nalang lapastangan ang mga Pilipino. Ito’y ehemplo na seryoso tayo na sa sariling bayan natin, hindi tayo magpapabastos sa kanila,” he added.
The Immigration Bureau confirmed his arrest as specific terms relating to operational rules were violated as grounds under the Philippine Immigration Act related to actions constituting grounds for the declaration of unworthiness of a foreigner.
According to the NCRPO record, the vlogger currently faces a complaint related to unjust vexation, alarm and scandal and attempted theft recorded in one of his live streams.
Remulla also pointed out that they are in the process of locating the cameraman of Zdorovetskiy, who would also face the law in a series of cases for involvement in producing the controversial content.
This case has already triggered endless reactions in favor and against Zdorovetskiy, as many Filipinos clamored to press the government for stricter immigration rules to compel foreign nationals towards a level of responsibility for their actions while in the confines of the country.
