Transcript of interview with Sen. Pia S. Cayetano
Topic: Laws covering sex scandal videos

Q: Reaction po sa sunod sunod na lumabas na sex video sa internet ni Dr. Hayden Kho with some girls. Tamop po bang sabihin na we do not have enough laws para maprotektahan ang mga kababaihan natin?

SPSC: Ang pinaka-basic natin is yung revised penal code. Dito pini-penalize ang grave scandal o kaya yung mga acts that would constitute pornography katulad ng pag-exhibit o pag-display ng mga acts, the way that it is stated in the law ay walang ibang purpose kundi to serve lustful purposes. But you have to note that this was passed in 1932, very general ito. In fact it speaks of exhibitions is theaters, fares or cinematographs or other places. Itong kasong ito pwede nating ipasok sa other places. But since 1932 pa ito, hindi nito naenvision specifically ang internet. But it could be covered. On the other hand, we c an look at our law on violence against women and children, kung saan dito naman ini-specify na if you are in a sexual relationship or dating relationship and the sexual relationship could only be one event, and you were a victim of abuse, the abuse could be physical, emotional or psychological, covered ka. By virtue of that kind of abuse you can file a case, and that will be penalized by a fine and imprisonment. Covered yun ng psychological abuse. To take it further, I am filing a bill on the anti-voyeurism which prevents itong mga acts kung saan ivi-video ang isang tao na wala siyang consent at ipapakita o di kaya ire-replay ito, let's say pumayag ang dalawang tao na i-video sila pero wala naming permission na ipakita sa iba iyon, punishable iyon, but that is a bill that I'm still going to be filing today.

But as I've said, pinoint out ko sa iyo ang ibang batas na mukhang papasok naman doon iyon. The lawyers just have to make out a case to make sure na pasok ang elements that would constitute a crime, and definitely there would be civil obligations. Hindi ito crime pero kung mapo-prove na may moral damages, emotional anguish na na-suffer ng biktima, then my civil case din iyon.

Q: Worth hearing po ba dito sa senate ang kaso ni Dr. Kho?

SPSC: Sa opinion ko, worthy sa Senate ang any kind of abuse sa women. For me you have to remember na ang aming trabaho is to have hearings in aid of legislation. Hindi kami ang huhusga kung sino ang particular na tao na may kasalanan. Ang pagdinig naming sa isyung ito is more in general na ano ba ang mga acts of violence na napo-portray against women, doon ako concerned. In this modern dasy and age, hindi natin nalalaman na yung mga anak natin, yung mga 17 year old young girls, na mababiktima ng ganoon. It may be na hindi naman ganon kalaswang mga picture but they might be put in a compromising position na hindi nila alam. It is good for the Senate to look into this, but for me, not because of the individual characters involved, but the issue involved.

Q: Some are calling na tanggalan ng lisensya si Dr. Kho dahil nga sa involvement niya..

SPSC: Again, we are not in particular against a person. I will speak as a member of the Senate, and in my capacity before, ng chair ako ng committee on health, marami kaming tinignan na mga violations ng doctors, and doon apapsok ang dalawang bagay, yung strengthening ng kanilang professional organization, ang Philippine Medical Association

Kung saan meron tayong nakapending na bill na para mainstitutionalize ito so they can have the power to regulate and to really penalize their members kung may mga pagkakasala ito. Sa ngayon meron silang karapatan, pero yung iba hindi naman sumasali sa organisasyong ito, so what we want to do, kami, as lawyers, meron kaming IBP, talagang nasususpend, nadi-disbar. Kailangan ganoon din kalakas ang PMA na kung may pgakakasala ang isang doctor, whatever it is, I'm not talking about any case, na merong recourse ang biktima na puntahan iyon. Whether it is because of a malpractice in the practice of the profession or ang kanyang unethical conduct. Dapat i-strengthen yung kanyang organization and then pati na rin ang PRC.