EDITORIAL — Another undesirable alien

Barely has Russian-American vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy been deported to Russia when another foreigner is also scheduled for booting out of the country for similar behavior.

This time it’s an Estonian by the name of Siim Roosipuu, 34, who runs a vlog called Pro Life Traveler. He was arrested by Bureau of Immigration agents last January 15 in Barangay Cantil-e in Dumaguete City.

According to reports, he has actually been considered a persona non-grata in that city after he harassed Filipinos so he could have something to post online. He was also accused of filming and then uploading videos of underage girls without their consent and asking them inappropriate questions. He also referred to Filipino men as “monkeys”.

Another report claims his arrest actually came after he was found overstaying on his tourist visa and labeled an undesirable alien by the commissioner of his own embassy. In his case, it was lucky no one filed charges against him for his behavior, otherwise he could have faced jail time and experienced with Zdorovetskiy did; nine months in a sweltering jail.

What is it with some foreigners that they think they can just come here, make trouble, make fun of our people and then get away with it? Take note that we are saying some and not all because most of them actually behave when they visit here.

Is it a matter of their upbringing abroad or are we somehow unconsciously projecting the image that foreigners can just come here and walk all over us?

Foreigners who come here will never run out of things to post for their vlog when it comes to our people, culture, history, food, and tourist attractions, but if they come here to harass our people, to make fun of our culture, or just demean our being Filipino in any way just for likes and views then that is another thing entirely and should not be allowed.

Roosipuu got off with a slap on the wrist. Perhaps next time, like Zdorovetskiy, we should have undesirable aliens experience a bit of our prison hospitality before we deport them, just to make sure they learn their lesson.