Systematically deployed by online troll networks to silence women Conclusion
Context and impact
Some versions of the rumor suggested the video featured other actors, such as Padim Ysrael, rather than Fariñas. Vivian Velez BetaMAX Scandal With Mayor Farinas UPD
: Long before he became a powerful congressman and the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Fariñas was a young, charismatic, and wealthy law student at the Ateneo de Manila University. Later, he would enter local politics in Ilocos Norte, serving as the Mayor of Laoag City and subsequently as provincial governor. Systematically deployed by online troll networks to silence
While Rudy Fariñas was a law student at Ateneo (where he graduated in 1978), he was famously dating Vivian Velez. During this period, an intimate video of the couple circulated widely via Betamax tapes, which were the dominant home video format at the time. While Rudy Fariñas was a law student at
In recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, Velez became a vocal supporter of former President Rodrigo Duterte and a critic of opposition figures like former VP Leni Robredo. When Velez would post controversial political comments, online critics would frequently "taunt" her by bringing up the Betamax tape.
, who served as mayor of Laoag City (starting in 1980), governor, and congressman The Tape's Existence: