“We can’t really judge, we can just give guidelines.”
That was how Senator Alan Peter Cayetano concluded the episode of “CIA with BA” on Sunday, April 14.
In the ‘Case 2 Face’ segment, Mary Jane, together with her husband June, complained about their neighbor Jeric for allegedly leering at her a couple of times while taking a bath.
Based on the photo they showed, the bathroom has a ventilation space where Jeric supposedly placed his phone taking a video of Mary Jane.
“‘Pag ikaw ay nabastos, nahipuan, nabosohan, it’s not the same but it’s almost the same feeling ng na-rape ka or (to) put it in another word, sa English, na-violate ka. So natrau-trauma ka do’n,” Kuya Alan said as he, along with co-hosts Pia Cayetano and Boy Abunda, dissected the details of the issue.
“Sa sakop ng batas na Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act, ‘yung pagkuha pa lang ng picture or video do’n sa private parts, kahit hindi siya nakahubad, pero let’s say naka-underwear, na walang consent nung isang tao, it’s already a crime na ‘yung kulang niya is three to seven years, and 100,000 pesos to 500,000 pesos ang fine,” Ate Pia explained.
Jeric and his wife Jhea Mae strongly denied the accusation because according to him, he was just looking for his pet chicken at that time, which was around 4am.
“‘Pag naghahanap ka kasi ng manok nang 4AM at may naliligo, nando’n, syempre kahit sino parang, ‘hindi ka ba natatakot na umikot-ikot sa lugar na hindi mo lugar?’ Halimbawa nabaril ka nung time na ‘yon, baka ikaw nasa tama pero patay ka,” Kuya Alan said to Jeric.
The situation between the neighbors became worse as June hurt Jeric physically in front of their house.
“(Possible na) maiintindihan nung piskal at judge ‘yon, e. Pwede pang sabihin na parang dinedepensahan mo asawa mo. Pero ‘yung sinundan mo na sa bahay, kahit sabihin mong mainit ulo… at sinaktan mo, malamang kasuhan ka rin ng piskal ng physical injuries,” Kuya Alan told June. “When you take the law into your own hands, meron na rin silang ikakaso sa ‘yo.”
While Jeric already hoped to settle the issue with the complainant, Mary Jane said she would be happy if Jeric will be punished.
“(Kahit) maghapon lang po siyang makulong, masayang-masaya na po ako,” she said.
The lawmaker hosts then advised Mary Jane to bring the case from the barangay to the fiscal level.
“Parati tayong may natututunan. Minsan nae-expect natin ‘yung ending, minsan hindi. May biglang twist dyan… pero minsan, talagang mabigat ‘yung sitwasyon, we can’t really judge… we can just give guidelines,” Kuya Alan noted. “Lahat ng ating actions ay may consequences. Kontrolado natin kung ano ang ating gagawin pero hindi natin kontrolado ‘yung consequence. Mag-isip talaga tayo twice before we say or do something na pwedeng makasakit sa iba.”
For his part, Tito Boy shared: “I want to be cautious dahil natutunan ko sa buhay na ito that sometimes, what’s seen is not always what is. Kaya nga meron tayong batas na nangangailangan ng ebidensya, nangangailangan ng vetting, nangangailangan ng witnesses, para makasiguro lahat ng ito dahil we want to be fair.”
“CIA with BA” carries on the legacy of Senator Rene Cayetano, the late father of the sibling senators. The senior Cayetano was a renowned lawyer who gained fame through his radio and TV program “Compañero y Compañera,” which aired from 1997 to 2001.
Hosted by Alan, Pia, and Boy, “CIA with BA” airs Sundays, 11pm on GMA7, with replays on GTV the following Saturday, 10:30pm.
