Halili lawyers oppose closed-door Senate probe on sex videos

MANILA, Philippines – The lawyers of actress Katrina Halili are not in favor of a closed-door Senate investigation on the sex videos featuring her and Dr. Hayden Kho Jr. In a letter sent to Senator Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby" Madrigal, Halili’s counsels asked that Thursday’s hearing on the issue be made in public, contrary to the request by the camp of Kho Jr. “While we do recognize the sensitivity of the issues that will be heard during the said hearing, the matter has become a public interest necessitating a public hearing," the letter said. The lawyers – Raymund Palad and Mamyrlito Tan – also said the issue is not Halili but “the exploitation of women in the videos." Kho Jr. was reported to have 40 sex videos featuring various women, some of them celebrities. Halili’s camp sent the letter in response to the letter sent by Kho Jr., through lawyer Lorna Patajo-Kapunan, requesting that the hearing be done through executive session. In a radio interview earlier in the day, Kapunan said they would object if Madrigal insists on conducting a public hearing on the sex video scandal, instead of an executive session. “We will object to a public hearing. I think we should remind the Senate of the intent of a pornography statute, which is to protect reputation. You cannot protect reputation if [the hearing] is public," she said. In an interview with reporters, Madrigal said she would give in to the request of the two parties but she did not say how. “Pagbibigyan ko ‘yung dalawa kasi respetuhin ko ang kanilang karapatan [I will heed their request because we need to respect their rights]," she said. - GMANews.TV