Help for student in video scandal
A public outpouring of sympathy and offers of assistance came yesterday from government officials and agencies for the female student whose sex video recorded two years ago went viral in the Web.
Jaybee Binghay, information officer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7), said they are ready to give an extensive “stress debriefing” for the young woman.
Acting Cebu Gov. Agnes Magpale, who chairs the Provincial Women and Children’s Commission, said she will ask the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help locate the people responsible for uploading the sex video in the Web.
“I pity the girl. It’s brave of her to say that she committed a mistake. She needs help,” Magpale said.
The acting governor has been closely working with the US Department of Homeland Security to fight cyber-pornography in Cebu.
She said the young woman was a victim of cyber pornography.
“We are willing to help. She needs intervention..I hope she came from the province (of Cebu)..because if she came from Cebu City we need to turn her over to Cebu City,” Magpale said
Binghay said the DSWD is “on standby” in case the student shows signs that she’s disturbed and needs help.
“We are worried that she may do something and we are here to guide and help her in her time of personal crisis,” she said.
In an interview the other day, the girl pleaded that she be allowed to graduate this year.
“I admire her courage and she showed it in public. It’s a good manifestation despite what’s said about her,” Binghay said.
The woman’s lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna said he and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7) want to help the girl return to school and graduate.
Dela Cerna, also CIDG-7 counsel, warned those taking photos of the girl at this time that they can face charges of coercion, malicious mischief and defamation as well as civil damages.
Anyone found “sharing, reproducing or selling” the sex video without the consent of the young woman and her ex-boyfriend can be held liable of violating Republic Act 9995 or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009.
Republic Act 9995 or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009 penalizes anyone who “sells, shares, shows, or exhibits” the sex video or photo without the consent of the persons involved in the video or photo.
Anyone find guilty of sharing or selling the sex video can be imprisoned ranging from three to seven years and/or fined at least P100,000 or a maximum of P500,000.
Dela Cerna said he will hold a press conference at his office to ventilate what the parents of the girl wanted done to ensure her privacy.
Police will patrol the streets for any sale of CDs featuring the sex video.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama directed the City Anti-Indecency Board (CAIB) and the police to go after sidewalk vendors distributing copies of the sex video scandal.
He said he received reports that DVDs of the sex scandal are sold by downtown vendors for P50. They also offer to give copies of the sex video via USB also for P50.
As a parent, Rama said he’ feels sorry for the coed.
“Don’t challenge the mayor,”he said in warning that copies will be confiscated and destroyed. Correspondents Renan Alangilan, Chito Aragon, Edison delos Angeles and Fe Marie D. Dumaboc
