Hayden: Powerful person supplying stars with drugs

MANILA, Philippines – They were high on Ecstasy, and it was actress Katrina Halili who supplied the drugs. This was the story given by celebrity cosmetic surgeon Hayden Kho to the Senate yesterday as the chamber probed the controversy over sex videos he admitted taking of himself with Halili and other women without their consent.

The allegation about drugs drew a sharp rebuke from Halili, who told Kho: “Ang kapal ng mukha mo.”

Sen. Jamby Madrigal, who chairs the committee on youth, women and family relations, vowed to dig deeper into the drug issue that she said may be hidden beneath the lurid details of the sex video scandal.

Kho told the committee that he and Halili were high on drugs during their sexual encounter that was caught on video. He said the supplier of the drugs was an influential person and known to many celebrities. But Madrigal, who chairs the committee, failed to convince Kho to name the alleged drug supplier.

“Yes, this guy is very, very powerful, he knows the generals who can have me killed anytime,” Kho said. He said he also fears for the safety of his family. He said the alleged supplier could also be the one who bought the sex video files for P2 million and had them distributed.

Kho confirmed he took 30 valiums in a suicide attempt and was placed in the basement of a hospital until Dec. 23, 2008.

He also claimed it was Halili who flirted with him and gave him drugs. He stressed he is prepared to face the consequences of his actions but also challenged the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to check Halili for drug use through hair sample instead of blood sample.

He said traces of drugs stay in the hair for up to six years but only eight days in the blood. Kho said he did not have any emotional relationship with Halili and that they did not have any real conversation except about “drugs and sex.”

For her part, Halili denied giving drugs to the 29-year-old Kho and said the doctor took advantage of her feelings for him. On Kho’s dare that she undergo drug test, Halili said he should focus on the abuse he committed against her.

Kho disclosed he started taking drugs in August 2007 upon the influence of Halili, who would reportedly text him to go to a hotel so they could take drugs and have sex. But he said he started buying his own drugs in March 2008. He said Halili would meet him wearing only a bikini and wrapped in a towel and ask him to take drugs along with other people.

Kho said he initially refused but later gave in because “sometimes the allure of sex is even stronger.” He said their relationship lasted until December 2007 and they last met on Jan. 1 last year.

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