The Philippine Online Chronicles

Kho vs. Halili

A series of investigations and court proceedings transpired after the discovery of the videos.  Even the Philippine Senate took time to investigate the “Hayden cam scandal.”  Months after the first video came out,  Katrina Halili filed a P100 million case against Hayden Kho at the Pasig Regional Trial Court.  Lawyers of the actress maintain that Kho had indeed violated Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act.  A pre-trial of the case was held on March 8, 2010 and was followed by another hearing a month after.

Halili also filed a libel case against Hayden's mother, Irene Kho.  The case, which was filed in May 2009 after Mrs. Kho called Halili a “bad influence” on her son, was initially dismissed by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.  However, the Department of Justice endorsed it three months after and the case remains ongoing.

To establish the facts of what had transpired when the sex videos were shot, both parties agreed to an ocular inspection inspection of the rooms in Holiday Inn Galleria.

In the morning of July 5, Katrina Halili took the stand before Judge Rodolfo Bonifacio of the Pasig Regional Trial Court.  The actress maintained that she did not have knowledge of the video camera Kho had installed in their hotel room.  “Malamang kung alam ko nag-hi ako dun,” said Halili, obviously irritated by the defense’s questioning.  “Kasi parang... parang ako yung may kasalanan pa? Basta ako po hindi ako titigil. Lalaban po ako. Manalo, matalo po ako, 'di ako titigil. Paglalaban ko po ang sarili ko,” she added.

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Showbiz reporter and talent manager, Lolit Solis, also took the stand and related to the court the meeting she had with Kho, Belo, Kho’s mother, and his lawyer, Lorna Kapunan.  The talent manager testified how Kho had confessed to her about the sex videos, though she admitted she has forgotten some details of the events which happened more than a year ago.

The next court hearing will be on July 26, 2010 where an NBI psychologist will be employed to cross-examine Halili.

Picking up the pieces

The year 2009 had definitely been a bad one for Kho.  Aside from the sex videos that came out and the legal proceedings that followed, he also lost his license to practice medicine.  The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) decided to revoke his license after finding him guilty of “Immorality; Dishonorable and/or Unethical Conduct” and “unfit to practice the Medical Profession.”  He was then ordered by the PRC to surrender his license and identification card within 10 days after the decision has been made.  “I am really hoping that they will just suspend me because pinaghirapan ko ’yung license. Alam naman nila ’yan, doktor din kasi sila. What happened to me … in my personal life … it has nothing to do with my practice of medicine,”  he said.

His string of bad luck earned him an invitation from Korina Sanchez to be a special guest in Rated K’s pre-Christmas episode entitled "Kapatawaran."  It was his first TV appearance after his medical license was revoked by the PRC.  “Sinadya ko talaga na umiwas muna sa TV. Kasi para sa akin, hindi talaga ako para sa TV. Parang I decided to stay away from the lenses,” he explained.  He recalled how he became a doctor and his entry into showbiz.  “Nagustuhan ko siya [showbiz], pero parang hindi naging maganda para sa akin. It's an experience I don't regret, e. At one point in our life, we have to try something we haven't tried before.”

Hitting rock bottom, Kho admitted that he almost ended his life. He was allegedly found by farmers sprawled and hysterical in the middle of a pineapple plantation in Silang, Cavite.  He kept uttering, “Huwag niyo na akong hanapin” and “mahal na mahal kita, Vicks,” according to one Andrew Olivar who came to the doctor's rescue.  Kho was later admitted to Manila Doctors Hospital under the care of his father, Dr. Hayden Kho, Sr.  The family denied that it was a suicide attempt, and said it was merely an intestinal flu.

This was allegedly not the beleaguered doctor's first attempt at taking his own life. Reportedly, he first tried to commit suicide on December 2008 after his first breakup with Vicki Belo.  He was confined for 13 days in the basement of Makati Medical Center after having too much Valium.  Kho eventually poured his time and energy into other activities.  “I enrolled in Mandarin class. I enrolled in culinary class. I enrolled in MBA [Masters in Business Administration],” he said.  He also put up a posh bar aptly called “The Lounge” in Tomas Morato with friends Red Lacanilao and JP Ferrerin.

Just recently, blogger Mica Rodriguez spotted Kho in a nail art salon in SM Megamall. He is in the  marketing team, tasked to visit and monitor the salon's operations at least twice a week.  Finally, it seems that Kho is picking up the pieces this year.

Reunited and it feels so good

Kho was lately reported to have been seen with Vicki Belo in Serendra, fueling speculations that the two have reconciled.  The celebrity doktora was seen attending the court hearings in support of her boyfriend, including the one held just recently.

That the two are back in each other's arms were confirmed by Belo's daughter Cristalle Henares, after Mo Twister revealed that he was with Kho and Belo in a Paris get-away. "Kung saan siya happy, happy ako for her," Cristalle said.

Photo screencap from TheABSCBNNews.

Mauie Flores is a 24-hour mommy living a sugar-free sweet life. A former pre-school teacher, she is now busy blogging and writing web content articles while managing her household and taking care of her boys. The mole on her sole explains why she travels a lot when her busy writing schedule permits her to.