Trigger warning: Mention of sexual abuse, rape
GORGY RULA
At this writing, nasa Senate detention pa rin si Jojo Nones pagkatapos siyang ipa-contempt ni Senate President Pro Tempore Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
Pagkatapos ng executive session ngayong Agosto 19, 2024, Lunes, kung saan idinetalye ni Sandro Muhlach ang ginawa umano kanya nina Nones at Richard Cruz, bumalik ang hearing na open na sa lahat.
Dito na-interrogate ang dalawang independent contractors ng GMA-7 na sinampahan ng reklamong rape at acts of lasciviousness ni Sandro sa Department of Justice (DOJ).
Read: Sandro Muhlach naghain ng reklamong rape, acts of lasciviousness
Doon pina-contempt si Nones dahil mariin nitong itinanggi ang sinabi ni Niño Muhlach na nag-alok umano sila ng monetary donation para sa charitable institution na pipiliin ng dating Child Wonder.
“Ayaw pang umamin, e,” pakli ni Senator Jinggoy nang nakapanayam ito ng media pagkatapos ng hearing.
“May affidavit si Atty. Annette [Gozon-Valdes] na confirming that they were offering financial contribution to a charitable institution of Niño’s choice.
“I just asked him a question answerable by yes or no, ‘Did you offer any financial assistance to any charitable institution?’ Lagi niyang dine-deny, e, meron nang affidavit. Tapos sinabi rin ni Niño.
“Lagi siyang nagsisinungaling. May drugs pa involved. Dine-deny niya yung nagbigay siya ng 500-peso bill folded like straw. Tapos pinasinghot niya yung bata… e, first time lang nung bata.
Naniniwala rin ang actor-politician na may "sexual abuse" na nangyari, base sa salaysay ni Sandro, bagamat wala pang hatol ang DOJ tungkol sa inihaing mga reklamo ng Sparkle artist.
Sabi ni Senator Jinggoy, “And there was really a sexual abuse, but they keep on denying it.”
Read: Sandro Muhlach speaks up about sexual abuse
JOJO NONES'S LEGAL COUNSEL EXPLAINS CLIENT'S SIDE
Nagpaliwanag naman ang legal counsel ni Jojo Nones kung bakit pinanindigan ng kanyang kliyente ang mga pahayag nito mula pa sa unang pagdinig ng Committee on Public Information and Mass Media na pinamumunuan ni Senator Robin Padilla.
Ayon kay Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque, “As regards the allegation that Jojo was lying, because he does not want to admit about the alleged drugs and sexual abuse, not only are these matters incriminating to him therefore his right against self-incrimination must be respected, but also because these are issues which the DOJ will investigate and decide.
“Jojo cannot admit these matters because, according to him, these are not true. And kapag in-admit niya yun, as the committee wants him to do, mawawalan ng saysay ang preliminary investigation sa DOJ.
“Under the rules, the issue of whether or not they are liable for alleged suxual abuse through the use of illegal substance/drugs is the burden of Sandro to prove before the DOJ.
“It is the DOJ which should resolve whether or not there is reasonable certainty of conviction to indict our clients for sexual abuse and to file the case in court.
“At this juncture we firmly believe that we cannot say that they are already lying just because they denied that they are liable for sexual abuse or there is drug involved.”
Read: Jojo Nones cited in contempt by Senator Jinggoy Estrada
NOEL FERRER
Muli namang nilinaw ni Senator Robin Padilla na hindi korte ang Senado.
Ang primary goal daw ng committee ay gumawa ng batas para sa benefit ng bansa at taumbayan.
Ang sexual harassment naman, ayon kay Senator Jinggoy, ay laganap sa movie industry at kailangang mabigyan ng agarang aksyon. Kaya masusi raw nila itong iniimbestigahan.
“That is why we are here investigating in aid of legislation. I’ve heard that this [sexual harassmen] has been prevalent since the 1990s.
“That is why the committee of Senator Robin will submit a committee report para matigil na itong sexual harassment within the movie industry.”
JERRY OLEA
Gaya ng nasabi namin before, ang formal complaint ni Sandro Muhlach laban sa dalawang independent contractors ng GMA-7 ay naunang idinulog sa GMA management at NBI.
Read: Sandro Muhlach formally files complaint at NBI
Kapagkuwan ay dinala ang usapin sa Senado, at dumulog din si Sandro sa Department of Justice (DOJ).
Pahayag pa ni Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque na legal counsel nina Jojo Nones at Richard “Dode” Cruz kaugnay sa Senate hearing nitong Lunes, “At the onset of the hearing we invoked the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of Bengzon vs. Blue Ribbon Committee na since nasa DOJ na ang kaso, then DOJ should have exclusive jurisdiction of the investigation na.
“Pag kasi nag-investigate pa ang Senate as per the case of Bengzon vs. Senate Blue Ribbon Committe, there will be a possibility that there will be conflicting judgments ng DOJ and Senate, and that it will violate the rule on exclusive jurisdiction.
“Sandro’s lawyer do not want to discuss details of the case, NBI likewise, and DOJ do not want to give evidence of the case anymore as DOJ needs to assign it to a prosecutor and so as not to preempt the investigation, but still they were asked about the details of the case.”
Kapansin-pansin sa Senate hearing today tungkol kay Sandro at sa dalawang independent contractors na wala si Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla.
Matatandaang lumapit noon si Niño Muhlach sa mag-asawang Senator Bong at Congresswoman Lani Revilla upang humingi ng advice kaugnay sa sinapit ni Sandro.
Nakasama si Niño sa Kapuso program ni Senator Bong na Walang Matigas Na Pulis Sa Matinik Na Misis, kung saan kabahagi rin si Jojo Nones.
Read: Niño Muhlach gets emotional at Senate hearing on son's ordeal