Kho sex video mess triggers Internet café inspections in Dumaguete

MANILA, Philippines — The raging controversy over the sex videos of celebrity cosmetic surgeon Hayden Kho triggered a series of inspections on Internet cafés at a city in Negros Oriental province where the "sex video scandal" trend started some years back, an online news site reported Saturday. Visayan Daily Star (www.visayandailystar.com) reported that the Dumaguete City government's Anti-Indecency board conducted surprise inspections against cyber-porn viewing. Operatives of the Anti-Indecency Board said one of the reasons for their inspection was to make sure the scandal involving Kho's sex video would not be circulated. But they said the "regular unannounced spot check" was also meant determine if these business establishments are complying with the local anti-indecency ordinance. Interestingly, the Anti-Indecency Board was created in 2005 following the controversial Dumaguete Sex Scandal video. SPO3 Josefina Lakandula of the Women’s and Children’s Concerns Desk of the Dumaguete police said that so far, they have not found any Internet café users surfing porn sites or viewing porn videos. She said Net café owners are advised to put up a sign that prohibits viewing of pornographic materials. Also, the group is doing the rounds of new Internet cafés to educate and inform the owners of the existing anti-indecency laws. Anti-Indecency Board chairman George Gilvero Jr. said the group was also scheduled to do the rounds of the clubs, bars and restaurants, videoke bars, hotels and motels and similar business establishments Friday evening. The group is also preparing for the opening of classes when students return to school in June. The Anti-Indecency Board said a local law prohibits minors aged 18 and below from playing online games at Internet cafes during school hours. But the group admitted this is a difficult provision to enforce as many students can get away with an excuse of being at an Internet café to do research. Last year, at least two business establishments were charged for selling lighters with pornographic materials printed on them. More than 400 lighters were confiscated during that operation. Former vice mayor William Ablong had authored the resolution that pushed for the creation of the anti-indecency ordinance and a board to oversee its enforcement. The Board is composed of representatives from the police, the Couples for Christ, the City Social Welfare Office, non-government organizations like the Marina Clinic and the Silliman University Extension Office, the Department of Education, and the Church. Meanwhile, the Board has appealed to the public not to circulate copies of the Kho-Halili sex video. They said they had also visited shops in Dumaguete selling pirated CDs and DVDs but did not find any porn videos. However, they believe that these are still being sold discreetly by the shop owners. - GMANews.TV