Malacañang said Russian-American vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy may be declared persona non grata following a series of controversial videos showing him harassing and disrespecting Filipinos for social media content.
According to Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was made aware of Zdorovetskiy’s behavior, prompting immediate action from authorities.
“Yes, the report reached the President. That’s why concerned authorities immediately conducted an operation,” Castro said in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. “With the joint efforts of the Philippine National Police, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the Bureau of Immigration, Vitaly Zdorovetskiy was arrested. We saw how he harassed our fellow Filipinos and did not respect our laws.”
Castro emphasized that while the Philippines remains a welcoming country, foreign nationals must respect local customs and abide by Philippine laws.
“Tourists and foreign nationals are welcome here. But it doesn’t mean they can disrespect Filipinos, our customs, our laws,” she added.
Zdorovetskiy, 33, was arrested Wednesday at Seaside Boulevard in Pasay City on the strength of a mission order from the Bureau of Immigration declaring him an “undesirable alien.” He is currently detained at the BI facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending deportation proceedings.
The vlogger drew criticism for several videos, including one where he threatened to rob a woman who declined to appear in his vlog. In another, he was seen mocking a mall security guard and grabbing his hat without permission.
The viral content, shared under the title “Vitaly disturbing the peace in the Philippines,” sparked outrage online and led to complaints from four security guards and a restaurant owner.
Zdorovetskiy is now facing multiple charges, including three counts of unjust vexation under the Cybercrime Prevention Act, two counts of theft, and one count of attempted theft.
“He will be deported. For that alone, he is already considered persona non grata,” Castro said, adding that his Filipino cameraman could also face legal action depending on the extent of his participation.
“If it’s proven he was complicit, he may be charged too. In conspiracy, all participants are held liable,” she said.
The Palace stressed that while freedom of expression is respected, it should not come at the expense of others’ rights.
“Each freedom is accompanied by obligations. One cannot always invoke the right to express freely without considering responsibility,” Castro noted.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado echoed the sentiment, warning that the government will not tolerate harassment and disruptive behavior from foreign nationals.
“The Philippines welcomes visitors from all over the world, but those who abuse our hospitality and laws will be held accountable,” Viado said.
Authorities said the arrest should serve as a lesson to other content creators and tourists.
“This should be a warning to all: respect our country and our people,” Castro concluded.
