MANILA, Philippines — Three officials from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have been relieved of their duties following allegations that they provided special treatment to a Russian vlogger who managed to record content while in government custody.
Palace press officer Claire Castro confirmed on Thursday, January 22, 2026, that the dismissals were triggered by videos recorded by Vitaly Zdorovetskiy during his time at the BI detention facility.
Detention Videos Spark Probe Zdorovetskiy, who was deported on January 17 after being declared an undesirable alien, caused a final scandal before his departure by recording and posting footage while under the bureau’s custody.
- Malacañang’s Action: Following a meeting between Malacañang and the BI, the bureau confirmed the security breach.
- Sanctions: In addition to the relief of the three officials, several cellphones were confiscated from the detention area.
- Warning: Castro warned that the investigation is ongoing and more personnel may face sanctions if found negligent.
The “Rage-Bait” Trend The incident comes amid a broader crackdown on foreign vloggers using “rage-bait” content—videos designed to provoke negative reactions to boost engagement.
- Vitaly Zdorovetskiy: Initially arrested in April 2024 for harassing a security guard and crashing a commandeered tricycle, he was blacklisted upon his deportation.
- Nikita Chekhov: In a separate but related incident, 21-year-old Russian vlogger Nikita Chekhov was recently arrested in Quezon City. Chekhov drew widespread condemnation for a viral video in which he threatened to “purposely spread HIV” during his stay in the Philippines.
Bureau’s Stance Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado issued a stern warning to foreign visitors: “Foreigners who come to the Philippines to spread alarm, disrespect our people, or abuse our hospitality are not welcome and will face deportation.”
Chekhov is currently being held at the BI detention facility awaiting his own deportation proceedings. The BI maintains that the Philippines will not be a playground for disruptive social media stunts that compromise public order or national dignity.