Remulla assures: No special treatment for undesirable foreign vlogger

Department of the interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito “Jonvic’’ Remulla asserted that the Russian vlogger, who commitment multiple disruptive and harassment acts in the country “will be treated just like any other suspect.’’

In a statement, Remulla highlighted its importance, stressing that Filipinos have been law-abiding in the countries they have visited.

“Tapos na po ang mga dayuhan na kaya nilang bastusin ang mga Pilipino. Ito’y ehemplo na seryoso tayo na sariling bayan natin, hindi tayo magpapabastos sa kanila (Gone are the days were foreigners insult Filipinos. This is an example of our seriousness in our own country not to allow them to disrespect us),’’ Remulla insisted.

Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy was found by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to be an undesirable alien and flight risk after reportedly harassing a security guard in Taguig City through attempted kissing and grabbing, seizing of service firearms, taking videos without consent, mockery, and vlogging without permit.

“The suspect is now under the restrictive custody of the BI,’’ Remulla said.

The DILG chief stated that multiple charges have been filed against Zdorovetskiy for his “multiple disruptive and inappropriate acts of harassment against several individuals and disruption to public peace and safety as shown in his vlogs in social media.’’

In the latest video, the vlogger was also seen riding a patrol motorcycle without permission, threatening and insulting a woman, stealing items like a guard's cap and a restaurant's electric fan, and crashing a tricycle. 

“There were also videos of him harassing a Filipino instructor with vulgar remarks, encouraging fake reviews against a local business, and dangerously jumping on a moving jeepney,’’ Remulla noted.

Amidst the new culture of the internet and the social media which erases the boundaries of decency and propriety, Remulla urged the public that “content creation must be handled with accountability.’’

“People have to take responsibility for the content they create. It is not a license to shame or to hurt or to scorn anyone,” Remulla pointed out.