Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy won't be deported yet — SILG Remulla

Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy will not be deported from the Philippines yet and will remain in a facility of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to face the charges that will be filed against him, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Monday.

Remulla, who presented Zdorovetskiy to members of the media, vowed that “no special treatment” will be given to the controversial vlogger who drew flak on social media for reportedly harassing and insulting Filipinos for content.

“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.

(He will remain at the Bureau of Immigration detention facility in Muntinlupa while he awaits his trial. We will not deport him. He will be held accountable by the law here in the Philippines.)

“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.

(We're done with foreigners who only insult Filipinos. This is an example that we are serious here in our own country and we won't let them belittle us.)

Remulla stressed that Zdorovetskiy has to face all the five cases that will be filed against him, tagging the vlogger as an “undesirable alien” and a “flight risk.”

“Papakita natin na ang mga tao katulad ni Vitaly ay kailangang pagbayatan ang ginagawa nila dito. Kaya sisiguraduhin ko na tatapusin natin ‘to, ililitis natin ‘to at hanggang walang verdict laban sa kanya ay hindi siya made-deport. Dito lang siya sa Pilipinas,” the chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.

(We will show that foreigners like Vitaly will be held accountable for what they are doing in our country. I will ensure that we will finish this, we will prosecute him, and until there is no verdict against him, he will not be deported. He will stay here in the Philippines.)

Zdorovetskiy was arrested in a hotel in Pasay City last week after the BI issued a Mission Order for Undesirability against him.

He was arrested for allegedly violating BI operations order on acts or omissions that constitute undesirability of foreign nationals in relation to the Philippine Immigration Act.

Zdorovetskiy is currently facing complaints for unjust vexation, alarm and scandal, as well as attempted theft after reportedly harassing Filipinos in his livestream, according to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Remulla further said that authorities are still looking for Zdorovetskiy’s cameraman in his vlogs, who may also face charges.

“Ita-tactical interrogation pa siya (Zdorovetskiy) para makuha namin ang identity ng mga cameraman niya. Pati siya (cameraman), tingin ko ay Pilipino naman, ay kasama dito sa charge dahil enabling siya eh of a commission of a crime. So hahanapin pa namin,” the DILG Secretary said.

(Zdorovetskiy will undergo a tactical interrogation so that we can get the identity of his cameramen. The cameraman, whom I think is Filipino, will also face charges because he is involved in the commission of a crime. We are still searching for the cameraman.)

Remulla also suggested to lawmakers of the next Congress to strengthen existing laws against content creators, either foreign or local, who make profit at the expense of others. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News