Leila de Lima: I have no sex video

Not even former DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima, who is running for senator under the Liberal party banner, was spared by the sex-video scandal involving celebrities.

So when Leila met the movie press over lunch recently, the subject inevitably cropped up. What should be done to protect not only celebrities but ordinary people from this social-media hazard? Leila gave a straight-forward answer.

“I am also a victim,” she confirmed the rumor that spread several months ago. “Mayroon daw ikinakalat but I haven’t seen it. I want to assure you that there’s no such sex video and if ever there is, it’s hogwash. In fact, hindi ko pinapansin because it’s not true.”

According to Leila, what is needed is not new laws but to strengthen the one that is already in place — the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act, under which some celebrities have been charged in court not as victims but accused of being perpetrators.

The ice-breaker set the tone for Leila first-ever time to meet the movie press. She kicked off the open forum by admitting that she was “nervous” (kinakabahan) since she said she knew that the no-holds-barred bunch is noted for asking even the most personal questions.

“But I can always invoke my constitutional right against self-incrimination,” she joked.

Actually, Leila had nothing to be nervous about. Soon, she was at ease with the movie press, saying that she was showing them her “human side,” her “soft side,” in contrast to her matapang (brave) and mataray (bitchy) public image.

“I am sensitive and emotional,” she started, “and being a probinsyana from Bicol (Iriga City), I have simple needs. I am not choosy with food, I eat whatever is edible. I cook and my favorite recipe is Bicol Express, laing na ginataan (spicy gabi leaves). I go to the market myself.”

Like Lolit Solis who has more than 45 dogs at last count, Leila is a dog-lover.

“I have 13 dogs and four of them, the privileged few, sleep in my room. They are my stress-busters.”

And more. “I play volleyball. I would play during our sports fest at DOJ. I love long-distance driving. I am also into shooting although I am not as good as (BIR chief) Kim Henares.”

She relaxes by listening to all kinds of music…easy rock, pop and the kind played on Love Radio. And she loves watching movies, both foreign and local. Among her favorite actors are Meryl Streep (“I love her in Kramer vs Kramer), Mel Gibson, Cesar Montano and Kevin Costner (“I saw his movie The Untouchables four times”).

“The last local movie that I saw was Everything About Her starring (Batangas Gov.) Vilma Santos and Angel Locsin. I watched it during the premiere in Lipa City together with Vilma and Ralph (Recto who is also running as reelectionist senator). The acting of Vilma and Angel is good, as usual, and I love the extreme emotions tackled by the movie. I think I spent some of the time crying and some of the time laughing.”

Asked who would she pick to portray her if ever her life story, said to be colorful, were made into a movie, Leila laughed.

“If it’s my funny side, Eugene Domingo would be perfect. But it’s my serious side, my love story na masalimuot (thorny/stormy), I would rather that Dawn Zulueta portrayed me and Richard Gomez as leading man,” adding laughing even more, “kaya lang who would Richard portray?”

Yes, who?

“My marriage was annulled,” she admitted, “that’s why I said that my love life is masalimuot.”

Pressed to elaborate how masalimuot it is, Leila begged off.

“It’s too private, too personal,” invoking her constitutional right against self-incrimination.

Three current issues came up: same-sex marriage, gender equality and…since we have had two women presidents (the late Cory Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo), what is the possibility (or probability) of having a third one?

On same-sex marriage: “Our society is not prepared for it. I’m not prepared for it but I can fight for certain legislations that would protect the rights of same-sex unions, same-sex relationship. There are same-sex couples who build their lives and who love each other, and that’s something that we ought to respect and uphold. We cannot interfere with matters of the heart.”

On gender equality: “We have women in positions of power in the economy. But we are now No. 1 in Asia and No. 7 worldwide as far as gender equality is concerned.”

On the third item: “It’s always welcome to have a woman president or a woman vice president. Right now, ang ipinaglalaban ko ay si Leni Robredo, my fellow Bicolana, and our party’s vice presidential bet.”

Like Nora Aunor, her Iriganian townmate, Leila loves singing.

She qualified, “Marunong akong kumanta pero sinasabi ko maski sa mga kampanya na hindi ako magaling kumanta,” mentioning Gerphil Flores as one of her favorite singers.

So, the movie press “demanded” that Leila give a sample of her singing. After hesitating, she launched into a smooth rendition of Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive. The movie press applauded her, asking for more, more, more!

And that was how Leila de Lima beautifully “survived” her first encounter with the unbridled movie press.

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