"I am not a commodity. I am a mother and an actress," Ruffa famously said in a 2007 interview. "When I said no, they felt disrespected."

While no criminal charges were successfully prosecuted against the actresses, the scandal had lasting effects on Philippine law and culture.

Over time, the fervor surrounding the Brunei Scandal faded, largely because of the lack of concrete, legal evidence presented against the celebrities involved.

Some critics viewed the inquiry as sensationalist or politically motivated, given the lack of concrete evidence presented during the hearings. Aftermath:

Alongside Gutierrez, other names linked to the affair included Gretchen Barretto Cristina Gonzales Maritoni Fernandez

Today, the scandal is often viewed as a piece of celebrity "urban legend" or a cautionary tale about the volatility of fame and the power of the media in the 1990s.