AKLAN – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested a Russian vlogger who went viral for his disrespectful behavior towards Filipinos, including incidents on Boracay Island in Aklan and in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Manila.
The 33-year-old Vitaly Zdorovetskiy was taken into custody in coordination with the Makati City police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) following complaints from netizens who saw his controversial videos online.
BI Intelligence Division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. confirmed that the arrest was a response to public outcry over Zdorovetskiy’s actions.
While he initially gained attention for giving P120,000 to an electric tricycle driver in Boracay, his behavior soon became the subject of criticism. Additional videos surfaced showing him allegedly harassing locals and disrespecting Filipinos both in Boracay and BGC.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado emphasized that while the Philippines is known for its hospitality, foreign visitors are expected to respect local customs and laws.
“The Philippines welcomes visitors from all over the world, but those who abuse our hospitality and violate our laws will be held accountable,” Viado said.
He added: “Harassment and disruptive behavior have no place in our society, and we will take swift action against offenders.”
Zdorovetskiy is currently detained at the BI facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig. He faces possible deportation and blacklisting, which would bar him from returning to the country./PN
