Stills from CCTV footage that showed a Chinese man kicking a cat to death in Makati. Photo from CARA Welfare PH 

MANILA — The foreign national who went viral online for allegedly kicking a community cat to death in Makati has been arrested, the Bureau of Immigration said Thursday.

Social media users and animal rights advocates had condemned the Chinese man's allegedly "unprovoked" act of violence that was caught on surveillance footage in broad daylight last week.

Officers arrested him in front of his residence in Barangay Palanan "after being found to be overstaying", the immigration bureau said. 

"BI records show that [the foreigner] arrived as a tourist in the country on May 2023, but has not extended his visa since September 2023," the agency said in a statement.

Makati community cat dies in 'unprovoked' attack by foreigner: group

Since he was unable to present any document, BI immediately took him into its custody and transferred to its facility in Bicutan, Taguig.

The 32-year-old man will face a deportation case, BI said.

“Filipinos are known to be very hospitable to our guests. But guests should not come to our houses kicking our pets," Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado advised foreigners visiting the Philippines.  

Community cat Ken was resting when it was kicked by the man, animal welfare group CARA Welfare Philippines said.

The suspect refused to provide his address when confronted and brought to barangay officials. The man also allegedly told CARA Welfare to write to the Chinese Embassy.

Under Philippine laws, acts of cruelty, abuse, and killing of animals are punishable by fines and imprisonment.