Kho, Belo summoned over Katrina sex video

Photo taken in June 2008 shows cosmetic surgeons Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho attending a birthday party at The Fort in Taguig. Lower photo provided by GMA-7 News shows Eric Chua, who could also be summoned by the NBI to shed light on the circulated sex video featuring Kho and actress Katrina Halili. Ver Paulino

MANILA, Philippines - Finding himself in the center of a raging controversy over his sex videos with model-actress Katrina Halili and two other women, celebrity cosmetic surgeon Hayden Kho is expected to appear at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) today to explain his side on the controversy, which may cost him his profession and even his freedom.

The NBI issued a subpoena that also covers Kho’s girlfriend Dr. Vicki Belo, also a prominent cosmetic surgeon.

The sex videos have spread on the Internet and DVD copies are bestsellers in many shops in Quiapo.

NBI Director Nestor Mantaring said at a press conference yesterday that a certain Dr. Eric Chua could be one of those who uploaded the videos on YouTube.

“We will summon him. But we have to summon first Dr. Hayden Kho,” Mantaring said.

He said Kho and Belo have just returned from a trip to Japan.

Optical Media Board chairman Edu Manzano said Chua was a fraternity brother of Kho but they allegedly had a falling out. Manzano said they received a tip on the existence of the video last month and that someone was trying to sell the video to producers for P20 million, but he did not say if it was Chua.

“He (Chua) was mentioned in a text message which was received by the manager of Katrina, saying he (Chua) has something to do with the copy of the footage,” Vicente de Guzman III, chief of the Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division of the NBI, said.

“On Dr. Vicki Belo, we have to ask her also how she got a copy of this sex video,” De Guzman said.

“Our target now is to identify who uploaded the video on the Internet. This investigation would not take long since the personalities have already been identified,” he said.

Kho is scheduled to appear at the NBI at 10:30 a.m. and Belo at 1:30 p.m.

De Guzman said, so far, the NBI is looking into Kho’s possible violation of Article 9262 or the law on Crimes Against Women and Children.

Halili, accompanied by Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., on Wednesday filed a complaint against Kho with the NBI.

In an earlier privilege speech entitled “A Doctor’s Perversity,” Revilla lambasted Kho for the sex videos and called on the Philippine Medical Association to revoke his license.

“(It is) a clear case of violation of a woman’s privacy and dignity,” said Human Rights Commission chairman Leila de Lima. “The posting (of the video) was clearly malicious,” she said.

“I hate to say this, but Filipino women clearly do not get enough respect. If Filipino men do not respect Filipino women, how can we expect a human rights culture in a world where our women, including migrant workers, will get respect?”

Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) co-chair Sister Mary John Mananzan also said Kho should not go unpunished.

“Even if they were consenting adults it does not mean that they should announce to the world what they did. I do not know what legal recourse can be done but this was really extreme. It really demeaned people and reduced them to the level of objects,” Emeritus Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani said.

“We give Katrina our support and we vow to promote every measure to protect and defend women like her (who have been) degraded and humiliated by this kind of malicious act,” Gabriela party-list Rep. Liza Maza said in a statement.

“People are falling over themselves talking, downloading and watching the Halili-Kho video flicks. These talks – along with its discussion in the media – are bound to (stir) children’s interest and curiosity on the matter,” Buhay party-list Rep. Irwin Tieng said.

PNP offers help

Amid the outrage over the spread of the sex videos, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is ready to help Halili find justice.

“The PNP will offer or give assistance to those in need of investigation, those who are filing complaints, and those who are in need of security,” PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa said in an interview.

“The PNP will attend to any concern or complaint. We do not discriminate. If there is a complaint we investigate, and if there is a request for security and request for investigation, we will investigate,” Verzosa said.

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