Malacañang commends vlogger's arrest for harassment

Malacañang commended law enforcement agencies for swiftly arresting Russian-American vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, who was accused of harassing Filipinos in viral videos.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was informed about the incident and ordered authorities to take action immediately.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and Bureau of Immigration (BI) collaborated to apprehend Zdorovetskiy, who is now detained at a BI facility in Bicutan awaiting deportation proceedings.

Castro noted that the vlogger's Filipino cameraman may also face charges for conspiracy or unjust vexation depending on his involvement.

Foreign nationals are welcome in the Philippines but must respect local laws and customs; freedom of expression comes with responsibility, according to Castro.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized the importance of responsible content creation, urging both local and foreign vloggers to respect Filipino customs and laws.