'Hayden cam' case: A useless sideshow, Pimentel says of sex video scandal probe

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. on Thursday branded as a "useless sideshow" the Senate probe on the sex videos involving Dr. Hayden Kho and several women, including actress Katrina Halili. In a weekly news forum at the Senate, Pimentel said existing laws can be used to prosecute the person responsible for the sex videos. "That to me is a useless side show that does not deserve the full attention even of some of our senators… there is no need for any new legislation, you can prosecute people for indecent exhibition, personal or by means of video," Pimentel said referring to the provision in the Revised Penal Code against lewd exhibitions. "Kulang lang ng implementation talaga [There is really a problem with the implementation of the law. This is what is bugging this country]," Pimentel said. However, if the probe to be conducted by the Senate Committee on Youth, Women, and Family Relations produces substantial result it could considered as a "good sideshow." "The whole incident is a sideshow. If the investigation that Jamby (Sen. Ma. Ana Consuelo Madrigal) is conducting is probably designed to fill up the gaps in the law that exists so the sideshow produces something substantial then it is a good sideshow," Pimentel said. He said the probe should be widened to include prohibiting the public exhibition of genitals as practiced of some fraternities. "Dapat i-widen ang scope noon to prohibit public nudity. Ba’t naman mga lalaki na mamartsa sa University Belt showing their male genitalia, they go scot-free while the female who are just trying to make a living na maghubad sa night clubs hinuhuli yun [They should widen the scope of the probe to prohibit public nudity. Why do they let men who march in the University Belt in Manila showing genitalia go scot-free while the women who are just trying to make a living by dancing naked in night clubs are being arrested]," Pimentel said. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV