In 1982, the scandal erupted into the public eye when several Manila newspapers, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer and The Manila Times, began publishing stories about the existence of the videotapes. The media frenzy that ensued was unprecedented, with reporters and camera crews camped outside Velez's and Farinas' homes, clamoring for interviews and footage.

“Okay,” Rudy said, pouring two fingers of whiskey into a coffee mug. “Let’s open it.”

The "scandal" is considered a classic example of an early viral hoax in the Philippines for several reasons: