Hayden Kho Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—As far as the Professional Regulation Commission is concerned, it’s game over for Hayden Kho Jr.’s medical career.
In a statement sent by the PRC Wednesday afternoon, the office said “the Commission’s decision is final and may not be appealed before the PRC,” referring to the PRC’s recent decision to revoke Kho’s medical license.
They clarified, however, that the cosmetic surgeon could still appeal to the Court of Appeals and eventually to the Supreme Court.
The PRC decision, issued last August 22, dismissed Kho’s motion for reconsideration and affirmed the Philippine Board of Medicine’s 2009 decision revoking Kho’s license over his sex video scandal with actress Katrina Halili.
Two years ago, Halili filed the administrative case versus Kho. Kho, using a hidden camera, had secretly filmed the actress having sex with him. The video eventually leaked online.
“The Commission believes that his actuation is immoral, dishonorable and unethical,” the PRC said, in its statement sent by Public Information and Media Relations Unit spokesperson Marian Layug.
In a statement aired on a TV news program, Kho had said the PRC’s decision was “difficult to accept” because he was “losing [his] medical license not because of lack of knowledge or skills or even lack of dedication to [his] profession.”
But the PRC stressed there was no dichotomy between a medical practitioner’s private and personal life.
“There is no distinction as to whether the transgression is committed in a physician’s private life or in his professional capacity, for a physician may not divide his personality as a doctor at one time, and a mere citizen at the other,” the PRC statement read.
Professionals regulated by the State and bestowed the privilege of their job titles “may be disciplined for any conduct contrary to that which is required of their profession and stature by law, good morals and plain decency, whether in the professional or in their private capacity,” the PRC said.