JANUARY 22, 2026 — It’s the kind of scandal that makes you wonder: if a foreign vlogger can sneak videos out of detention, what else is happening behind those locked doors? The Palace has confirmed that three Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials were booted from their posts after Russian prankster Vitaly Zdorovetskiy managed to post content while supposedly under tight watch.

Zdorovetskiy, infamous for harassing people to create viral stunts, was arrested in April 2025 and deported to Russia this month. He’s now blacklisted from ever setting foot in the Philippines again. 

But before his deportation, clips and photos of him surfaced online — some showing him smoking, others attending Bible study. The Palace admitted the BI itself said the videos may have been taken during the “early time” of his arrest.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said, “Nakausap po natin mismo ang spokesperson ng Bureau of Immigration at si Russian vlogger ay na-detain sa Bureau of Immigration detention facility at ang mga nauna daw yatang mga video ay noong early time ng kaniyang pagkaka-arrest.” 

(We spoke directly with the spokesperson of the Bureau of Immigration and the Russian vlogger was detained at the Bureau of Immigration detention facility, and the earlier videos were allegedly taken during the early time of his arrest.)

“So because of that ... tatlo po ang natanggal na Immigration official because of that at marami pong na-confiscate na mga cellphones,” she added. 

(So because of that, three Immigration officials were removed and many cellphones were confiscated.)

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), which briefly had custody of Zdorovetskiy, quickly distanced itself from the mess. It clarified that the photos of him attending Bible study were part of an official program, and stressed that he had no access to gadgets or cigarettes while in their facility. 

“The possession of such items is strictly prohibited under BJMP rules,” the bureau said.

BJMP also pointed out that Zdorovetskiy stayed in their custody for only seven days, from June 11 to 18, 2025. The rest of his months-long detention was under BI watch.

You see, Zdorovetskiy himself turned his detention into content. 

On social media, he wrote: “After 290 days in the Philippines jail with rats, cockroaches, and +35 Celsius weather, I am finally free.” 

He claimed he spent “91 days in complete isolation” and added, “They wanted me gone but I’m here, all glory to GOD.”

Now the Palace says investigations aren’t over. 

“Kung mayroon pa pong iba na maaaring masabi natin na nagkakaroon ng kakulangan ay paiimbestigahan pa po ito at kailangang matanggal ang dapat na matanggal sa posisyon kung mayroong pang-aabuso,” Castro warned. 

(If there are other lapses, they will be investigated and those guilty of abuse must be removed from their positions.)

When detention walls can’t even keep out cellphones, how can Filipinos trust the system to keep corruption out?

(Image: Philippine News Agency)