Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 21) — The daughter of Vice President Leni Robredo formally sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after a fake sex video made rounds online, Robredo’s camp said Thursday.
“Confirming that a letter was sent to the NBI through a lawyer on behalf of Aika Robredo. Processing with the lawyers,” it said in a statement.
Vice presidential spokesperson Barry Gutierrez previously slammed the alleged sex video that circulated online earlier this month, calling it a “malicious fabrication” to distract voters.
“Our supporters should see this for what it is: A distraction,” he said. “Malinaw na krimen ito. At ang paraan para talunin ang mga ganito once and for all: Manalo tayo sa halalan, ayusin ang sistema, at panagutin ang mga nagkakalat nito.”
[Translation: It is clear that it is a crime. And the way to beat this once and for all: win the elections, fix the system and hold accountable those who are behind it.]
Robredo, who is vying for the presidency, pointed to her closest rival Bongbong Marcos in the smear campaign against her daughter.
READ: Robredo points to Marcos side in smear campaign vs. Aika; BBM camp cries deception
In the letter dated April 18, it stated there was “a sudden surge” of posts in various blogs, porn sites, and social media platforms targeting Aika through “mislead[ing] the public and giv[ing] the impression that our client has videos or photos allegedly showing her in a scandalous pose or act.”
“Dati, ako lang ‘yung focus ng lahat. Pero ngayon na gumagalaw din ‘yung mga anak ko na tulungan ako, pati sila biktima na,” Robredo said over a week after the video surfaced.
[Translation: Before they were only focusing on me. Now they are also targeting my children who are helping me.]
“We are filing this not just for Aika, but for all those who could be victimized by these online predators. We will not stop until the perpetrators of this atrocious act are behind bars,” Atty. Pingki Bartolome, co-counsel of Robredo, said in another statement issued Thursday.
