Jinggoy Estrada apologizes over 'harsh' questions on Sandro Muhlach inquiry

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Thursday apologized over his interpellation on actor Sandro Muhlach and singer Gerald Santos in the last hearing into the alleged sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.

"I understand that my recent questionings in a Senate hearing gave the public the impression of being harsh, insensitive, and apathetic. It was never, never my intention to victim blame or humiliate those who have come out," Estrada said during the Kapihan sa Senado.

Estrada said he is only seeking to address a "systemic issue" that has been hurting artists and workers in the movie and entertainment industry.

"My passionate approach, which did not sit well with the public monitoring the proceedings, stems from a deep frustration that these problems have persisted for years," he said, noting that he was also a part of the industry that's why he knows that these "tragic realities" are happening.

He likewise said that he has no intention to "dismiss" the feelings of the victims of sexual abuse and harassment.

"Wala po akong intensyon na balewalain ang nararamdaman ng mga biktima ng pang-aabuso, sexual abuse o sexual harassment... hindi ko kukunsintihin ang ginawa ng sinasabing may awtoridad o kapangyarihan sa industriya," he went on.

"I condemn all forms of violence, regardless of gender, particularly in this industry where abuses, katulad ng sinasabi ko, have been ongoing for so long," he said.

Several personalities and social media users criticized Estrada over his remarks in the last hearing on Muhlach's case where Santos also attended to disclose that he was raped by a musical director in 2005.

During his interpellation on Santos in the last hearing, Estrada asked the singer-actor why did it take him five years to divulge the alleged rape incident.

Estrada likewise raised his voice when Muhlach told the Senate panel that he could not disclose the details of the alleged sexual assault incident in July as the two GMA independent contractors who were accused in the case have yet to receive the copy of the case filed before the Department of Justice.

"Alam niyo pag hindi niyo tatapusin ito, hahaba nang hahaba ito. You're wasting our time here eh. Magsasalita ba kayo o hindi? Kung hindi aalis na ako dito," Estrada told Muhlach and his lawyer during the last Senate hearing.

At the same Kapihan sa Senado forum, Estrada explained that the live stream on the hearing was down when he was sincerely talking with Santos. He disclosed that he even offered assistance to Santos when the latter told him that he could not afford to pay lawyers for his case even if he wanted to file a case 19 years after the 2005 incident.

In Muhlach's case, Estrada said he thought that Sandro was ready to narrate to the public the details of the incident that's why he raised his voice.

But Estrada said that he will not force Muhlach to divulge details that are not for "public consumption."—LDF, GMA Integrated News