TV contractors Richard Cruz and Jojo Nones. Screengrab from Senate YouTube
Sandro Muhlach‘s alleged abusers finally faced the Senate amid allegations of sexual harassment against them, lamenting that they might have been prejudged because they are gay.
At the hearing of the Senate committee on public information and mass media, TV contractors Jojo Nones and Richard Dode Cruz insisted on their innocence on Sandro’s allegations that he was sexually abused following the GMA Network’s gala night on July 20.
“Bakla kami, oo. Pero hindi kami gumagawa ng masama sa kapwa. Bakla kami, oo, at may takot kami sa Diyos,” said Nones, reading from a prepared statement explaining their absence from the previous hearing, primarily that they might be subjected to a “media circus” and “premature trial.”
Nones and Cruz took turns in reading their joint statement, at some point their voices breaking as they tried to hold back tears. Both the TV consultants stood their ground, insisting on their innocence.
“Hindi kami gumawa ng kahit anong sexual harassment or abuse laban kay Sandro Muhlach. Sa pagkakataong ito sa harap ninyong lahat, mariing itinatanggi po namin ang lahat ng mapanirang akusasyon na ito laban sa amin,” they said.
(We did not do any sexual harassment or abuse against Sandro Muhlach. This time, we are here in front of you all and we vehemently deny all the accusations against us.)
READ: Before Sandro Muhlach, these celebs also braved harassment
Nones and Cruz further said that contrary to public knowledge, they are not GMA executives and are only independent contractors of the network who are at the mercy of the network, that even a small mistake could cost them the termination of their precious posts.
“Tumagal kami sa telebisyon ng more or less 30 years, at bago ang pangyayaring ito, ay malawak ang naging kontribusyon namin sa industriya ng telebisyon sa pamamagitan ng mga naiambag naming mga award-winning at top-rating television series at mga teleserye. Maganda po ang takbo ng aming karera,” they said.
(We have been in television for more or less 30 years, and before this event, we have contributed extensively to the television industry through our award-winning and top-rating television series and teleseryes. Our career is going well.)
The two contractors said they are not denying that they are gay, but admitted that it pains them to be branded with unverified claims and baseless allegations just because of their sexuality.
“Sa katunayan, ang pagiging bakla namin ang isa sa mga dahilan kaya kami naging creative, artistic at nagkaroon ng skills na kailangan sa industriya. Buong buhay namin ginamit namin ang pagiging bakla namin sa maayos na paraan para maitaguyod ang aming pamilya,” they said.
(We are not denying that we are gay. In fact, being gay is one of the reasons why we became creative, artistic and had the skills needed in the industry. All our lives we used our gayness in a good way to support our family.)
“Kaya napakasakit sa amin at sa aming pamilya na mabasa ang aming mga pangalan online na may caption na ‘bakla’ at kung anu-anong masasakit at mapanirang-puri na bansag at descriptions. Bakla kami, oo, pero hindi kami mga abuser. Bakla kami, oo, pero hindi kami gumagawa ng masama sa kapwa. Bakla kami, oo, at may takot kami sa Diyos,” the two emphasized.
(So it hurts us and our family to read our names online with the caption “gay” and other hurtful and defamatory names and descriptions. We are gay, yes, but we are not abusers. We are gay, yes, but we don’t do bad things to others. We are gay, yes, and we fear God.)
In the end, the two asked the public to refrain from judging and crucifying them as convicted criminals. They likewise dared Sandro Muhlach to come forward and tell the truth.
“Wala kaming ginawang masama sayo at alam mo yan sa puso mo. Hindi pa huli ang lahat na magsabi ng totoo. Sa lahat ng mga sumusuporta sa amin, lalo na ang mga nakatrabaho namin sa industriya na dahil kilala kami ay hindi naniniwala na magagawa naming ito, at sa lahat ng mga netizens na nagsasabi na ikaso muna ito at wag kami i-publicity trial, maraming salamat po,” they said.
(We didn’t do anything bad to you and you know it deep within your heart. It’s not yet too late to tell the truth. To all those who support us, especially those who have worked with us in the industry and all the netizens who say that we should file a case first and not subject us to a publicity trial — thank you very much.)