Katrina bid to summon Solis, De Leon nixed

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Vicki Belo’s lawyer has opposed a bid by actress Katrina Halili to summon television hosts and gossip columnists Joey de Leon and Lolit Solis.

"We should not make a circus out of this proceeding," lawyer Adel Tamano said at the preliminary hearing Tuesday on the criminal case against Belo, her estranged lover Hayden Kho and several others accused of complicity in the video sex scandal.

“Ang dami-dami nang pinapatawag na hindi naman kailangan,” Tamano said.

Hayden Kho’s legal counsel Lorna Kapunan also opposed Halili’s lawyer Raymond Palad’s bid to present the video of De Leon’s interview with Solis as she assailed Palad for taking the case to media.

“This case should not be his window to fame,” Kapunan said.

Emelie Fe Delos Santos, chairperson of the Department of Justice panel investigating the video scandal, summoned the counsels to listen to their arguments.

Kapunan pointed that Palad’s client has been appearing in several television shows talking about the case. Palad, on the other hand, said Belo and Kho have also been guesting in various TV shows tackling about the case as well.

But Delos Santos said, “I don’t care if your clients appear on television 24/7. We will stick to what has been submitted to us. I assure you we will not be swayed by what is being said before the media.”

Halili, who sued Kho over their leaked sex videos, wanted De Leon and Solis summoned to shed light on Solis’ claim during a television interview with De Leon that she had seen the video.

“Ms Lolit Solis is a very good friend of respondent Dra. Belo and the complainant respect their friendship. It is also possible that Ms Solis watched the sex video together with respondent Dra. Belo,” Halili said in her reply-affidavit.

Belo had said she watched the videotaped steamy trysts of Kho and Halili alone in her house and that she destroyed the DVD after seeing the videos.

But the DoJ panel denied the request to call the showbiz hosts even as it allowed Palad to present the recorded TV interview.

“We need to have a basis,” Delos Santos told Kapunan and Tamano.

The counsel for respondent Princess Marie Velasco also believed there was no more need to call Solis and De Leon.

At Tuesday’s preliminary investigation, Kho presented 13 witnesses—his fraternity brothers, childhood friends—who belied claims that the controversial cosmetic surgeon let them watch the sex videos.

The panel set a clarificatory hearing on July 14 where the complainant, respondents and witnesses will be appearing before the panel to answer questions.

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