Lawyer predicts CA will overturn Hayden's acquittal

MANILA, Philippines –  The lawyer of actress Katrina Halili expressed confidence yesterday that the Court of Appeals will overturn a Pasig City judge’s acquittal of former celebrity surgeon Hayden Kho in the sex video case.

Kho was accused of violating Republic Act 9262, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, for allegedly videotaping his intimate moments with the actress and uploading them on the Internet.

Halili claimed she was not aware that her sexual encounters with Kho were being videotaped.

Her lawyer, Raymund Palad, said Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Rodolfo Bonifacio dismissed the case due to insufficient evidence and threw out a P100-million civil damages claim Halili filed. This can be overturned at the CA, he said.

“The dismissal was for insufficiency of evidence. We have filed a notice of appeal at the RTC praying that the records of the case be elevated to the CA,” he said.

Palad said they could still pursue the civil case against Kho and collect for damages. He added that the civil suit could serve as closure for the case that dragged on for almost a year.