The word to describe what the House of Representatives did last week in its inquiry into the alleged drug dealings of Sen. Leila De Lima is “prurient.”

Officialdom and the media groped for a week for a word or words to describe what had transpired. Vice-president Leni Robredo, who was unusually active and interested in what happened, offered two words, “harassment” and “slut-shaming.” Her objective was to defend a member of her sex from abuses, but her word choice unfortunately had the effect of labeling de Lima a slut. Others more bluntly said the probe was lascivious.

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