An official of women's party-list group Gabriela on Monday said she is hoping that the alleged sex video of Senator Leila de Lima will not be shown at the House of Representative's inquiry on the Bilibid drug trade.

Party-list Rep. Emmi de Jesus told ANC's Headstart that Justice Committee Chairman Reynaldo Umali has sent feelers indicating he is against the showing of the clip.

"I don't think matutuloy [ang pagpapalabas ng video]. I am very hopeful. Ngayon pa lang, even Chairperson Umali, may binibigay na siya na mga feeler. He is open to giving further study on the video itself, kasi alleged pa lang, kailangan pa nga ng forensics on authenticity of the video itself," she said.

[I don't think the showing of the video will push through. I am very hopeful. Even Chairperson Umali has given feelers. He is open to giving further study on the video itself, that it would need forensics on its authenticity.]

"Pero kasi the mere intent or the mere thought na ilalabas ito at gagawing ebidensiya, sa akin, off na siya," she added.

[But the mere intent and thought that this will be released and used as evidence, for me, is already off.]

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre earlier claimed that the video clip would help establish the close relations of De Lima and her alleged bagman, driver, and lover Ronnie Dayan.

He and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez want to show the alleged sex video during the House Committee on Justice's hearing on the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

• READ: Aguirre threatens to play De Lima 'sex videos'

Around 44 out of the over 200 members of the House of Representatives have signed a petition not to show the said video, and De Jesus is optimistic that number will rise since the petition is still being circulated.

Gabriela cited the Anti-Voyeurism Law which penalizes “the act of broadcasting, through any device, photos, videos or recording of sexual acts.” The group also argued that showing the video is of no relevance to the House investigation.

• READ: Playing De Lima 'sex video' is illegal, Gabriela warns House

"I really hope that the chairperson of the committee will heed the demand of our colleagues kasi ang initiative na ito, ang sinasabi ni Speaker, tingin ko magbu-boomerang sa institution itself kasi parang kami mismo na lawmakers, inosente sa batas kasi may existing law na [nagsasabing] bawal, yet sinasabi mo that you are open to do that," she said.

[I really hope the chairperson of the committee will heed the demand of our colleagues because this initiative, what the Speaker has said, I think will boomerang into the institution because we, the lawmakers, are not knowledgeable that there is a law prohibiting that, yet you say that you are open to doing that.]

"The tendency for the general public is to be agitated and again focus on the shaming and the personal integrity of the person involved," she said.