The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has removed the one-hour cellphone privileges previously granted to foreign nationals held in detention centers.
This follows reports that Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy was allegedly recording videos while inside a BI holding facility.
The foreign national also claimed in a conversation with an American online personality that during his stay in a detention cell in the country, he was able to sneak in a cellphone after bribing facility guards.
In an interview, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado decided to strictly regulate cellphone use, leading to the complete removal of the privilege.
Sandoval said that instead of cellphones, foreign nationals in holding facilities will have access to landline phone booths and video calling booths.
She clarified that BI detention facilities are holding facilities and not prisons.
It was recalled that detainees were previously allowed to use cellphones for up to one hour to contact their families and embassies.
