Aguirre withdraws plan to show De Lima video in House probe

Department of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II (left) during the congressional inquiry on illegal drugs on September 20 at the House of the Representatives in Quezon City. The House committee gave the DOJ Secretary the permission to cross-examine witnesses on the alleged illegal drugs operation inside the detention center. Also in photo is Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali (middle), chairman of the House justice committee. (Photo: Oliver Marquez/PNA)

MANILA – Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday said the agency will no longer present the alleged intimate video purportedly featuring Senator Leila de Lima during the House probe on the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

“No, we are not going to present anything about (De Lima’s video). Whether we will play it or not, it will depend on the (House of Representatives’ justice) committee. I have no say in it. We are just going to present witnesses. We are not in possession of any video,” Aguirre told reporters in an ambush interview on Tuesday.

Aguirre stressed that the video screening will ultimately be the call of the committee.

The DOJ chief further explained that the prospective showing of the video would have been a material evidence to establish the alleged affair between De Lima and her former driver Ronnie Dayan, who was also purported as her drug money bagman.

He, however, noted that even without the video, there is already ample evidence to support the claim linking De Lima and Dayan.

“The evidence that will establish their relationship is already very ample. That’s why, whether you use the video or not, I could (still) establish their relationship,” said Aguirre.

Similarly, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Monday said it is within the House justice panel’s purview to decide if it is necessary to show the supposed intimate video of De Lima during the probe.

“It’s up for the [House justice] committee to decide. I told them if possible, end the committee hearing once they completed the picture and drafted a legislation about it,” Alvarez said.

The move to show the lady senator’s video drew flak from various lawmakers.

The Makabayan bloc in Congress sent Alvarez a two-page letter citing that it is a violation of Republic Act No. 9995 or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, which penalizes the act of broadcasting, through any device, photos, videos or recordings of sexual acts or any similar activities of a person.

Several lady solons also signed a statement calling for sobriety, decency, and interparliamentary courtesy to prevail in the justice committee’s investigation, noting that the video showing undermines their role to protect and preserve the law as members of the House.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said presenting the video in a public hearing has no “justiciable significance” and is only meant to shame De Lima’s party.

Lagman advised to use other pieces of evidence and means to prove the alleged affair rather than using the intimate video.

The House justice committee is set to resume its investigation on the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the NBP on Thursday.