Female solons: Showing alleged De Lima video demeans women

MANILA, Philippines — Women members of the House of Representatives have called on the lower chamber's leadership not to show the alleged sex video of Sen. Leila de Lima.

The female lawmakers have released a joint statement calling on the House Leadership to exercise sound judgment.

"The plan to show an alleged video of a Senator in the performance of a human act has nothing to do with what the House Committee on Justice is investigating. Furthermore, doing so is clearly illegal," the statement read.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier said that the supposed video of De Lima and her former driver Ronnie Dayan is relevant to the House Committee on Justice's inquiry on the proliferation of drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison.

The House Speaker added that the viewing of the video will be allowed in the House probe as long as it is done to find the truth.

Female lawmakers, however, stressed that the House must employ truthful means in the legislative inquiry on the proliferation of drugs.

"As women, we take offense in any action that intends to shame and demean us, regardless of being citizens or Senators. Let us not allow this to happen in our House, which has built a strong image as a protector of women's rights and welfare," the statement read.

As of writing time, 34 female lawmakers and 10 male solons have signed the petition against the viewing of the alleged De Lima sex video.

Sens. Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon and Bam Aquino earlier expressed their opposition against the viewing of such video.

The senators said that allowing the viewing of the video violates the Anti-Voyeurism Law, the Anti-Wiretapping Law and the Revised Penal Code on Crimes against Honor.

"Regardless of the authenticity of the alleged videos, viewing it is disrespectful to a sitting senator, to her person, and to the office she holds, and is violative of the law," the senators said.