‘Hayden cam’ case spurs gov’t to fix public eye on Web porn

MANILA, Philippines - The sex video controversy involving actress Katrina Halili and embattled doctor Hayden Kho may simply look like a hot affair between two celebrities turned sour. But on Wednesday, the issue opened doors for the government and concerned groups to revive moves to address sexual abuse and the pornography menace swamping the Internet. “It is good for the Senate to look into this. But for me, not because of the individual characters involved [but] because of the issues involved," Sen. Pilar Juliana “Pia" Cayetano said. The Philippines, a largely conservative country that prohibits any form of pornography, earns about P50 billion yearly in the illegal sale of pornographic materials. According to the 2006 Internet Pornography Statistics report by tech entrepreneur Jerry Ropelato, the Philippines with about $1 billion revenue, ranked eighth in the list of countries that earn biggest from pornography sales. Internet pornography has practically remained an untouchable crime in the country because the Philippines doesn’t have enough laws to address the problem. This is the view of lawmakers, among them Senator Ramon “Bong" Revilla Jr., who said on Wednesday that Kho could only be charged for violating Republic Act 9262 or the law prohibiting violence against women and children. “Regarding cyber-crime, medyo malabo pa tayo do’n," said Revilla, explaining that Kho could not yet be charged with other crimes related to Internet pornography. ’Sobrang nababoy’ On Wednesday, Halili sought the help of Revilla and the National Bureau of Investigation after realizing that she had to stand not only for her rights but also for the dignity of other abused women. “Hinaharap ko itong kahihiyan na ito para lang matapos na ‘to. Kasi ako mismo, sa sarili ko, ayoko nang maulit sa akin. Kasi kahit anong ingat ng babae, kung yung mga lalake intensiyon nilang gawin ‘yon. Gusto ko lang matuto po ‘yong ibang mga tao. Haharapin ko na ito, kahit ako na ‘yong nakakahiya." [I am facing this humiliation to end this problem. I don’t want this to happen to me again. Even if women protect themselves, they could remain vulnerable if men’s intentions are against them. I want them to learn a lesson. I will face this, even if it’s humiliating on my part.] Halili, who burst into tears, acknowledged that she was the one on the video clips seen dancing and later having sex with Kho. She vowed to pursue her fight against those who spread the controversial recordings. “Sobrang nababoy po…kahit panoorin n’yo…Basta hindi po ako uurong. Dapat po magbayad ang taong gumawa nito, pati ‘yong mga taong nagkalat ng video. Kasi napakawalanghiya nila. Di ko po sila uurungan. Lalaban po ako sa kanila. Wala akong pakialam. Basta gusto ko magkaroon ng takot ang mga taong gumawa nito," she said. [I was so humiliated…you can watch that for yourself. But I won’t back down. The people who did this should pay, including those who spread the videos. They were so shameless. I won’t surrender to them. I will fight them. I don’t care. I want to put some fear in those who did this.] Frat brod spread video? Actor Edu Manzano who also heads the Optical Media Board (OMB), told a television station on Wednesday that it was Kho’s fraternity brother who spread the videos. Halili earlier said that there were four people who knew about the videos. Dr. Vicki Belo had denied that Kho was behind the spread of the videos, which have become best sellers in underground markets in Metro Manila, especially in Quiapo. Kho, who turned 29 on Wednesday, was placed under the Immigration watch list on orders of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez. Kho reportedly left for Japan with Belo last May 12. Consoliza Laguardia, chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, has coordinated with Revilla and the OMB to address the matter concerning Kho, including the illegal sale of the videos. Malacañang has also appealed to the public to boycott the videos. “Anything that is offensive to the public morals of course must be sanctioned. And of course, the Palace supports the action through appropriate agencies," said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on Wednesday. The Commission on Human Rights also bewailed the spread of the video. CHR chairperson Leila de Lima said that it was "very objectionable" and showed that the act was a product of a "sick mind." The Senate may conduct an investigation into the controversy beginning June 1. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said a civil case could be filed against those spreading the videos, in what he called the “Hayden camera" case. Cayetano said that a “shame campaign" should be launched against Kho. Library of sex videos? Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby" Madrigal wanted Kho to be summoned in the investigation. “Meron pa siyang dalawang babaeng ginawan ng sex video - isang modelo na dayuhan at isang Filipina na starlet. Hindi natin alam na baka may library siya ng lahat ng babae…na sumama sa kanya at ginawan niya ng sex videos without their knowledge." [He made sex videos of two other women – a foreign model and a Filipina starlet. We just don’t know if he has a library of all the women who went with him and made sex videos without their knowledge.] Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago thinks Kho could be filed charges. She advised the doctor to go to other places where sexual perversion is tolerated. “You have to consider your community in which you are operating. If he wants to do this kind of thing, if he gets a kick from it, I will have to add, it seems like a perverse kind of adrenaline in the system, he has to go to a country where the culture allows it, but not in the Philippines," said Santiago. The Professional Regulation Commission is also investigating Kho for possible violation of the professional code of ethics. "As of now, apparently it is immoral dahil pag sinabi natin immoral sinasabi natin hindi 'yon naayon sa moral standards ng society natin 'yong ginawa niya," said PRC chairman Nicholas Lapeña. [As of now, apparently it is immoral because what he did was apparently not in accordance with the moral standards of our society.] Lawmakers renewed their calls for public support of bills criminalizing Internet pornography and the spread of sex videos through cellular phones. - ARCS, GMANews.TV