Senate detains independent contractor involved in Sandro Muhlach's case

The Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media on Monday cited in contempt Jojo Nones, one of two independent contractors of GMA Network who are accused of sexually assaulting Sparkle artist Sandro Muhlach.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada made the motion at the continuation of the Senate hearing where Nones repeatedly denied the allegations that they told Muhlach to sniff drugs before he was sexually assaulted.

The motion was approved by Senator Robin Padilla, the chairman of the panel.

Muhlach was present virtually during the Senate inquiry.

"Maliwanag na maliwanag na sinabi ni Sandro may drugs pang involved. May sexual harassment na involved. Hindi nga lang sexual harassment eh. Assault eh. Pinagsamantalahan niyo 'yung bata, pinag-take niyo ng drugs 'tsaka niyo pinagsamantalahan...Sige you continue denying it," Estrada said.

(It was very clear that Sandro said drugs were involved. There was sexual harassment involved. Not only sexual harassment. It was assault. You took advantage of the young man, you made him take drugs before taking advantage of him. Go ahead, continue denying it.)

"These are allegations po...We deny po the allegations," Nones responded.

Apart from discussing what Estrada called a "drug-induced sexual assault", the lawmaker grilled Nones for denying that they offered Niño Muhlach, Sandro's father, that they will provide financial assistance to a charitable institution of Niño's choice.

This offer was first divulged by Niño Muhlach in the previous Senate hearing, saying this was suggested by the two independent contractors in front of GMA senior vice president Annette Gozon-Valdes.

According to Estrada, Gozon-Valdes stated in her affidavit that there was indeed an offer which Niño declined.

Still, Nones denied it.

"Your honor, upon review of the affidavit of Ms. Annette Gozon, nowhere in the affidavit does she mention that there was an offer of settlement, your honor. And in fact, she only mentioned the donation to the charitable institution after the paragraph where she put that, where she said Mr. Niño Muhlach came from a previous scheduled charity event," Nones said.

But Estrada was not convinced and said, "Maliwanag na maliwanag dito sa affidavit na nagsisinungaling ka."

(It is very clear in this affidavit that you are lying.)

The Senate public information and mass media committee launched an inquiry into the policies of television networks and artist management agencies in relation to complaints of abuse and harassment.

The two independent contractors, Nones and Richard Cruz, denied the sexual harassment allegations raised against them, but the senators believe that there is "strong evidence" against them. —KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News