Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Russian Vlogger Vitaly Zdororvetskiy is presented to members of the media during a briefing at the Quezon City Reception House on April 7, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Palace said Thursday that three Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials were removed from their posts over videos of Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy while in detention before he was eventually deported.Authorities arrested Zdorovetskiy in April 2025  over videos of him harassing people for content. He was deported to Russia this month and has been blacklisted from  returning to the Philippines.Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the BI has said the videos may have been taken during  the “early time” of Zdorovetskiy’s arrest.“Nakausap po natin mismo ang spokesperson ng Bureau of Immigration at si Russian vlogger ay na-detain sa Bureau of Immigration detention facility at ang mga nauna daw yatang mga video ay noong early time ng kaniyang pagkaka-arrest,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing Thursday, January 22.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/22/bjmp-russian-vlogger-zdorovetskiy-had-no-access-to-gadgets-cigarettes-while-in-our-custody-1735">BJMP: Russian vlogger Zdorovetskiy had no access to gadgets, cigarettes while in our custody </a></div>“So because of that ...  tatlo po ang natanggal na Immigration official because of that at marami pong na-confiscate na mga cellphones,” she added.The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, which said it had briefly taken custody of Zdorovetskiy, has clarified that photos of the vlogger attending a Bible study were part of an official activity.It also said that the vlogger had no access to gagdets while in BJMP custody and that photos of him smoking were not taken at their facility.The Palace official said an investigation will still be pursued should there be other lapses reported.“Pero kung mayroon pa pong iba na maaaring masabi natin na nagkakaroon ng kakulangan ay paiimbestigahan pa po ito at kailangang matanggal ang dapat na matanggal sa posisyon kung mayroong pang-aabuso,” she said.

The Palace said Thursday that three Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials were removed from their posts over videos of Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy while in detention before he was eventually deported.

The Palace said Thursday that three Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials were removed from their posts over videos of Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy while in detention before he was eventually deported.

Palace: 3 BI officials sacked over Russian vlogger’s alleged video content while in detention

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Palace: 3 BI officials sacked over Russian vlogger’s alleged video content while in detention

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 22, 2026 06:23 PM PHT

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Malacanang

BI

Bureau of Immigration

Vitaly Zdorovetskiy

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