Showing alleged De Lima video to derail House probe, Gabriela says

MANILA, Philippines – A party-list group on Thursday opposed the possible presentation of a private video allegedly featuring Sen. Leila De Lima to members of the House Committee on Justice, saying doing so will derail the inquiry into the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prisons.

Gabriela Women’s Party said showing the supposed video – Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II alleges there are three videos –  allegedly showing De Lima in a private moment is unnecessary as the hearings should focus on evidence of the alleged involvement of government officials in the illegal drug trade.

Congress has an oversight function to check the implementation of laws as well as to find whether amendments should be made to them.

"Showing of the alleged video muddles the issues central to the investigations into the links between government officials and the drug trade,” Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus said in a statement.

Gabriela explained that the presentation of the video is also violative of the rights of any person in any forum whether, legal, inter-personal, social, professional or political as she cited the policy declaration in the the Anti-Voyeurism Law or Republic Act 9995.

The law accords respect for human rights and penalizes acts that aim to annihilate any person's honor, dignity and integrity. It punishes, among others, the act of broadcasting, through any device, photos, videos or recordings of sexual acts or any similar activities of a person except for the purpose of suppressing or prosecuting the crime of photo or video voyeurism and upon court order.

"No man, woman or child, no matter how justified the case is presented for such proposals, deserve to be subjected to the prospect of one's private affairs exposed," De Jesus said.

Politicking in House probe

“Pinapakita ng labanang ito kung gaano kabulok ang sistema ng hustisya sa bansa. Ito ang sistema na puwedeng magpakita ng ebidensyang hindi mahalaga kaugnay ng krimen nguni't makakasira sa pagkatao ng kalaban,” the group said.

The group added politicking paves the way for drug lords and drug syndicates to reign inside the prison, control police and other officials, abuse women and commit more crimes inside the penitentiary. It added that some who are in prison are innocent and are facing trumped-up charges.

“Nawa'y patuloy na maging mapanuri ang mamamayang Pilipino at umaksyon para sa mga biktima ng inhustisya,” it said. —Rosette Adel