Leah Navarro defends Jim Paredes, says video thieves must be charged

MANILA, Philippines – After singer Jim Paredes owned up to a sex video that recently went viral, his friend and fellow singer Leah Navarro  said those who leaked his private data should be charged.

“Laughing at my friend Jim Paredes and his predicament doesn’t make you, video thieves and sharers, any better than him,” Navarro said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Navarro pointed out that revealing Paredes’ “private” video is a criminal act, hence the people behind this should be charged.

“The lengths you went through to reveal his private data are CRIMINAL and you should be charged,” Navarro said.

Laughing at my friend Jim Paredes and his predicament doesn’t make you, video thieves and sharers, any better than him. The lengths you went through to reveal his private data are CRIMINAL and you should be charged. You violated his privacy. Karma boomerangs big time.

— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) April 2, 2019

“You violated his privacy. Karma boomerangs big time,” she added.

Paredes initially dismissed the video as “fake,” but eventually admitted that it was him in the viral sex vide.

“The video was real. It was private, and not meant for public consumption.”

READ: Jim Paredes responds to sex video allegations: ‘Fake’ 

READ: Jim Paredes ‘comes clean,’ admits viral sex video is real 

The veteran singer-songwriter also apologized in his blog post. He said, “Today, I wish to express my truth. I am a flawed person, a human being, much like everyone else. I made a mistake, I was irresponsible. And I am truly sorry.”

“I know many of you have judged me and condemned me, and those who held me in high esteem are disappointed in me, to put it mildly. I apologize for my irresponsibility,” he added.

Screenshots from the video showing an image of a man sticking his tongue out and supposedly masturbating have surfaced social media.

Netizens pointed out the person in the video has the same mole and tattoo as Paredes.  / gsg