INTERIOR SECRETARY Juan Victor C. Remulla announced the deportation of Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy during a press conference in Quezon City, Jan. 15. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) sacked two more personnel, while one warden resigned following the allegations of a Russian vlogger who claimed he had his cellphone throughout his detention, Malacañang said on Monday.

Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said at a news briefing that this comes as the President ordered a thorough investigation into the now-deported Vitaly Zdorovetskiy.

The agency earlier fired three employees due to the claims of Mr. Zdorovetskiy, a Russian content creator detained in the Philippines from April 2025 until his deportation last Jan. 17.

Mr. Zdorovetskiy claimed he had a phone during his entire stay in jail, which he used to document his time.

Ms. Castro, quoting the BI, said the phones are only allowed to speak with family members, but shooting videos was prohibited.

The Russian, during a livestream with American online personality Adin Ross last Jan. 23, said he is going to expose the corruption, adding “money talks” in the Philippines.

He was arrested last year for disruptive behavior in Taguig City.

The graft-weary nation is probing a multibillion-peso flood control scandal, where government officials have been accused of colluding with private contractors for substandard or nonexistent projects. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

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