Bid to show sex video meant to shame De Lima, solons say

Like their female counterparts in the House of Representatives, congressmen from the "Magnificent 7" minority bloc on Tuesday rushed to the side of Sen. Leila De Lima and opposed the showing of her supposed "sex video."

"If you watch a sex video in the comfort of your room, there's nothing wrong with that. But when you show that  in a public hearing like the committee of justice hearing, then you will transgress several 'don'ts' in our society and several legal prescription," Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said in a news conference.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Tomasito "Tom" Villarin, meanwhile said showing the video would violate both "the law and basic decency."

"Masyadong patriarchal ang ating society. Nao-objectify na naman ngayon. Kapag babae ka, puwede kang takutin sa ganoon," added Villarin.

The group has already welcomed a statement from Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre earlier in the day that the Department of Justice has no plans to show the sex video in the House inquiry on drug proliferation inside the New Bilibid Prison. )

Lagman stressed that the supposed sex video has not been authenticated and the people in it were not identifiable. "What is the relationship between that sex video and the illicit drug trade in the NBP. It is completely not connected," said Lagman.

Aguirre has repeatedly said the sex video would establish De Lima's relationship with her former driver-bodyguard Ronnie Dayan, who allegedly collected drug money from Bilibid inmates on her behalf.

Both Lagman and Villarin however, doubt if the real intention of those wishing to show the video is to establish De Lima's drug links.

"It is there probably to shame a particular party. The video has no justiciable significance," said Lagman.

"It is simply a shame campaign against De Lima. It is not even blackmail. De Lima is beyond black mail. The persecutors have pulled trigger a thousand times," he said.

For his part, Villarin said: "I doubt there's such a video. Wala namang sinubmt sa House."

"Kapag tinignan mo sa Internet, may allegedly video. Iyon daw ang video. Many are saying, even sa social media, it's really fake," he added.

Female legislators from the Senate and House of Representatives have earlier separately issued statements opposing the showing of the sex video.

Originally calling themselves the "Legitimate 8," the Magnificent 7 was formed to oppose the installment of Rep. Danilo Suarez as House Minority leader after a meeting with more than 20 lawmakers led to his election to the post.

The Magnificent 7 is insisting that Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat should be recognized as the rightful minority leader because he placed second to Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in the election for the top House post leadership. Suarez only placed third.

Apart from Lagman and Baguilat, the remaining members of the Magnificent 7 are Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, Capiz Rep. Emmanuel Billones, Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, Akbayan party-list Rep. Tomasito Villarin. —NB, GMA News