INTERIOR Secretary Jonvic Remulla yesterday warned foreign vloggers in the country and their Filipino counterparts against irresponsible vlogging, vowing criminal charges would be filed against them.
Remulla made the warning in the wake of the April 2 arrest of Russian-American vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, who has disrespected Filipinos in his social media posts.
Zdorovetskiy, who was presented by Remulla to members of the media yesterday, was arrested at a hotel in Pasay City by a mission order from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for being an undesirable foreigner.
Police said Zdorovetskiy’s posts have sparked outrage due to his “disruptive and inappropriate behavior toward unsuspecting and friendly Filipinos.”
Remulla said Zdorovetskiy, who is detained at the BI detention facility in Manila, is facing five criminal cases and will be deported only after the resolution of the cases. He could not immediately say when his cases would be resolved.
Remulla said no special treatment is accorded Zdorovetskiy, who is detained at a regular cell and eats the same food as the other inmates.
Remulla said he will monitor the cases against Zdorovetskiy to ensure his victims will be given justice.
“It’s up to him to answer the cases against him, it’s up to him to explain his actions before the court,” said Remulla, adding Zdorovetskiy will be given due process.
Remulla said foreign and Filipino vloggers should respect other people.
“This is our warning to all, Filipinos and foreigners… People should be respected and should not be insulted,” said Remulla.
“Our warning to everyone who resorts to such activities is we’re going to arrest you. We are not going to allow you to disrespect Filipinos; no one is exempt from the law in the Philippines,” said Remulla.
“People have to take responsibility for the content they create. It is not a license to shame or to hurt or to besmirch anyone,” said Remulla.
Remulla said vloggers should have a sense of responsibility when they are creating content.
“This is a warning to everyone. If you want to earn through your foolishness (in vlogging), you should be ready for liability,” said Remulla.
VITAL PROOF
A Malacanang official said the filing of charges against Zdorovetskiy is proof of the Philippine government’s determination to implement the laws of the country, regardless of who they are and whatever their nationality is.
“Iyan po ay nagpapatunay lamang po na tayo po ay hindi nagbibiro; kung dapat may managot ay dapat panagutin (It proves that we are not joking. If someone is responsible, they should be held accountable),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.
Zdorovetskiy was seen in videos taunting, threatening to rob and insulting a woman, and harassing a security guard, including attempting to grab the service firearm, driving without permission and crashing a patrol motorcycle.
He even smiled in his mugshots and grinned while being presented to the media during Remulla’s press conference. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
