BI warden quits, 2 officials axed

Over Russian vlogger’s corruption allegation

MANILA, Philippines — A Bureau of Immigration warden has resigned and two more BI officers have been removed from their posts over the alleged special treatment accorded to a Russian vlogger who was arrested last year for harassing Filipinos in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

At a press briefing yesterday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the courtesy resignation of the BI warden has been accepted while two deputies have been sacked.

The development raised to six the number of BI personnel relieved over the case of Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, who was deported on Jan. 17.

Last week, Castro announced that three immigration officials were removed from their posts after Zdorovetskiy had uploaded videos of himself while being held at the BI detention facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

“The President has ordered a thorough investigation into this,” Castro said.

Zdorovetskiy said in a YouTube livestream that “he had a cell phone the whole time in jail because he paid the guard.”

The 33-year-old vlogger added that he was able to record his “entire experience inside the detention facility” and vowed to “expose corruption” while he was in the BI custody.

Castro said the BI allows detainees to use a cell phone only when communicating with their families.

“The recording of a video by the Russian vlogger was not in accordance with the rules and not authorized,” she said.

Castro said while Zdorovetskiy creates stories for content, his statements could guide investigators looking into alleged corruption in the BI.

Following the expose of Zdorovetskiy, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the bureau would no longer allow detainees to use cell phones.

Sandoval said one of the policies that Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado wants to implement is to remove the use of cell phones.

“But BI detainees would not be deprived of calling their families, counsels or embassies,” she said.

The BI is planning to install a video calling booth in its detention facilities in Taguig and Muntinlupa for the detainees to contact their families, many of whom are based abroad.

The BI is also coordinating with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Bureau of Corrections to beef up security in its detention facilities. — Evelyn Macairan