INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla warned both local and international vloggers on Monday, April 7, 2025, against "kupal content" following the arrest of Russian-American vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy for harassing several Filipinos as part of his online content.
“People have to take responsibility for the content they create. It is not a license to shame or to hurt or to besmirch anyone. Ang vlog, social media, ay may kaakibat na responsibilidad kasama sa kanilang pag-post. So babala na rin ito sa lahat. Kung gusto niyo pagkakitaan ang katarantaduhan niyo, handa kayo dapat pagbayaran lahat yan,” Remulla said in a press conference.
Remulla has also called for the modification of the country’s laws on cybercrimes.
“Dapat diyan, it’s either libel crime natin i-modify pa. [We will] suggest sa mga lawmakers ito sa susunod na Kongreso kung puwedeng higpitan pa nila ang batas laban dito at hindi liberal masyado, hindi conservative masyado ang interpretation. At the expense of others, at the expense of Filipinos, at the expense of everyone’s dignity, pinagkakitaan nila. Yun naman dapat panagutan nila,” Remulla said.
(That should be the case, either we modify the libel laws. [We will] suggest this to the lawmakers in the next Congress, if they can tighten the law against this and not have an interpretation that’s too liberal or too conservative. At the expense of others, at the expense of Filipinos, at the expense of everyone’s dignity, they profit from it. That’s what they should be held accountable for.)
Zdorovetskiy was arrested on April 2 and was turned over to the Bureau of Immigration over complaints of undesirability.
Complaints of unjust vexation, theft and attempted theft were filed against the foreigner by business owners and security guards who he harassed in Boracay and in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City for his content.
Remulla ensured that Zdorovetskiy will not be able to get away with his “kupal content” easily.
He said he has to face the complaints filed against him here, in regular detention, before being deported.
“Ang tao ay ginagalang, hindi natin ginagamit yan na pagtawanan para pagkakitaan. Ang nangyayari rito kay Vitaly ay magva-vlog siya ng kabastusan, mag-vlog siya ng harassment, kukuha siya ng maraming views at pagkakakitaan niya. Yun ang pinakamasakit diyan, niloloko tayo para pagkakitaan gamit ang social media,” Remulla said.
(People deserve respect; we don’t use that to laugh at them for profit. What’s happening with Vitaly is that he vlogs about indecency, vlogs about harassment, gets a lot of views, and profits from it. That’s the most painful part, they’re fooling us to make money using social media.)
“Ipakita naman natin na mananaig ang batas laban sa mga dayuhan dito, na ipakita natin na mga katulad na tao ni Vitaly ay kailangan pagbayaran ang ginagawa nila dito kaya sisiguraduhin ko na tatapusin natin ito, lilitis natin ito at hanggang walang verdict sa kanya ay hindi siya made-deport. Dito lang siya sa Pilipinas,” he added.
(Let’s show that the law will prevail against foreigners here, that people like Vitaly need to pay for what they’ve done here. I will make sure that we finish this, we will prosecute this, and until there is a verdict for him, he will not be deported. He stays here in the Philippines.) (TPM/SunStar Philippines)