: He went on to serve as Governor of Ilocos Norte and a high-ranking Congressman. However, the scandal—and later domestic abuse allegations from his late wife, Maria Teresa Carlson—continued to be used against him by critics.

The "scandal" typically refers to an alleged intimate video recorded on a Betamax tape—the leading home video format of the 1980s—featuring Velez and then-law student (and later Congressman/Governor) Rudy Fariñas. ⚖️ The Origins of the Legend

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Velez was dating Fariñas while he was a law student at Ateneo de Manila University. Ateneo Law Years:

, when Fariñas was a law student at Ateneo de Manila University and Velez was a rising "sex symbol" in Philippine cinema. The "Betamax Tape" Allegation

Unlike modern leaks, this tape was reportedly passed around secretly among wealthy collectors and influential figures.