MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Sunday the deportation case filed against Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy is underway as his inquest proceedings were completed last April 4.

This, after the Russian vlogger was arrested for allegedly harassing people in Bonifacio Global City and during his time in Boracay.

"Currently tapos na 'yung inquest niya noong, kung hindi ako nagkakamali, Biyernes ng hapon na-inquest na siya. Nakasalang na po 'yung deportation case against him," BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval said in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo's Story Outlook.

However, the immigration official said that they have received informal information that several individuals have filed complaints against Zdorovetskiy.

Sandoval said that if the individuals push through with a case against Zdorovetskiy, the cases have to be resolved first in the country before the deportation takes place.

"Yung deportation case hindi muna natin maiimplement up until matapos 'yung local cases niya dito sa Pilipinas. If hatulan siya ng korte ng pagkakakulong in whatever jail we have, [he has to] serve the sentence first before we can implement the deportation," she said.

"Welcome naman po itong mga foreign vloggers na gumawa ng content — kahit 'yung hindi funny, okay lang. Pero dapat hindi sila tumatawid into making crimes. Ang nangyari kasi dito kay Vitaly ay hindi basta vlogging kundi krimen na po na recorded in his videos kay naging isa na siyang undesirable alien," she added.

BI has also reminded foreign vloggers to follow laws while staying in the country or risk being removed from the country.

"We have a very hospitable nation. Napakababait ng mga Pilipino. But of course, inaasahan natin itong mga foreign nationals na habang nananatili sila dito sa Pilipinas ay sumusunod sila sa mga batas natin. Kapg hindi po sila ganon, they would be considered as an undesirable alien and they would have to be removed from the country," she said.