Manila: A Filipino cosmetic surgeon implicated in a much publicised sex scandal five years ago has regained his licence to practice medicine.
Dr Hayden Kho’s licence had been ordered revoked by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) in 2009 after a video of his private sexual encounter with actress and model Katrina Halili was leaked to the public.
The PRC Board of Medicine, which oversees medical license for doctors, had found the young doctor guilty on charges of immorality and dishonourable and unethical conduct.
But five years after the scandal made headlines, Kho has been reinstated by the board in a July 7, 2014 decision. The ruling enables the doctor, who has since turned to marketing a line of perfumes and toiletries, to practice the medical profession again.
The Kho-Halili sex scandal made headlines in 2009 after a video of the couple’s tryst was uploaded anonymously on video-sharing sites on the internet.
Halili was then a fast-rising film and television actress while Kho was known to be the boyfriend of Dr Vicky Belo, a popular cosmetic surgeon to the stars.
Kho had said he had contemplated suicide several times immediately after the video controversy.
His reinstatement in the medical profession came amid reports that businessman Cedric Lee also allegedly tried to extort money from the doctor and Halili.
Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said they are investigating Lee, who is in his 40s, for possible involvement in a group involved in blackmailing and bilking cash from popular personalities.
Lee was detained several months ago for mauling television show host Vhong Navarro last February.
The businessman claimed he was forced to get physical with the actor after the latter allegedly tried to rape his friend, Deniece Cornejo.
