CEBU CITY -- Police are continuing their campaign against the spread of pornographic materials, with two separate operations in Metro Cebu.

Policemen in Consolacion town seized pornographic videos, including those of controversial cosmetic surgeon Hayden Kho and actress Katrina Halili.

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In Talisay City, police officers responded to the request of City Councilor Shirley Belleza and seized copies of the video from vendors at the Tabunok Public Market.

Superintendent Erson Digal, acting Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) director, said he instructed all chiefs of police by radio message to confiscate all pornographic videos being sold in their areas of jurisdiction.

Amid the Halili-Hayden sex video scandal, groups and government officials are pushing for the passage of stronger legislation against the proliferation of sex videos.

“A specific law against video voyeurism would be helpful in reinforcing existing privacy and anti-obscenity laws, as well as special statutes protecting women and children from abuse and exploitation,” said Nacionalista Party spokesperson and former Cavite congressman Gilbert Remulla in a press statement.

The Nacionalista Party is pushing for the passage of a new legislation that would penalize video voyeurism.

“In some US states, video voyeurism is already penalized. Canada classified video voyeurism as a sexual offense in 2005. In the United Kingdom, non-consensual voyeurism became a felony in 2004,” said Remulla.

Twisted

Nacionalista Party president Senator Manny Villar said voyeurism and the spread of sex videos should be penalized, stressing that these not only destroy people’s reputation but also “undermines decency and good values of the Philippine society.”

“People buy it and watch it in their homes. Are we not aware that we are teaching our children twisted values about sex and indecency?” said Villar in a separate statement.

For her part, Cotabato Representative Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza said that video voyeurs should be dealt with properly.

“They do not deserve the kid-glove treatment,” she said.

According to Mendoza, voyeurism may be the act of spying on people, in many cases women and young girls, engaged in intimate conduct such as disrobing, sexual activity or other motions regarded as private in nature.

Earlier this month, two waiters in Cebu were caught trying to videotape a woman while in a bathroom stall in a local restaurant.

Also, a married Cebuana in her early 40s sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Central Visayas to file a complaint against her boyfriend for allegedly posting their sex video on a video sharing website without her knowledge and consent.

Threat

The boyfriend, likewise, threatened her that he would post more of their sex videos, should the complainant break up with him.

With the proliferation of sex videos, Remulla said it was time to take appropriate legislative action and stop the future spread of more sex videos that would affect the lives of those involved.

“We also recognize as a growing problem the fact that furtive videos are increasingly being used in extortion, or to torment individuals, including girls in dating relationships or women in informal marriages. This has to be addressed right away,” he added.

Last Saturday afternoon, Consolacion Police Chief Jesus Elmer Fernandez led four policemen and members of the Consolacion Traffic Commission in an operation at the Consolacion Public Market.

They seized 40 pornographic videos, including 22 pieces that featured the video of Kho and Halili.

In Talisay City, 14 assorted pornographic materials were seized at the Tabunok Public Market as these were reportedly sold openly.

This was after they were prodded by Belleza to confiscate such items. Belleza is chairperson of the City Council committee on women, family and children.

The videos contained footage of “Filipino residents and celebrities, including the recent Katrina Halili scandal.”

The seizure took place Saturday night at 9:30.

Last Friday, the City Intelligence Branch seized copies of the footage from pirated DVD traders in the old Vision Theater along Colon St. (MEA/EPB/Sun.Star Cebu)