Jojo Nones and Jinggoy Estrada. Image: screengrab from Facebook/Senate of the Philippines
Jojo Nones, one of Sandro Muhlach’s alleged abusers, apologized to Sen. Jinggoy Estrada for his conduct during the Aug. 27 Senate hearing, saying anxiety and stress “clouded [his] judgment.”
At the continuation of the Senate hearing investigating sexual abuse in the entertainment industry, Estrada and Nones had a heated exchange after the latter refused to answer the senator’s questions.
The GMA consultant also declined to make a comment on Muhlach’s testimony and cited his right against self-incrimination.
Estrada then ordered for Nones to remain in detention, prompting the latter to answer back, “For just exercising my constitutional rights, you continue to detain me.”
READ: Sandro Muhlach on trauma from sexual abuse: ‘Habang buhay ko dadalhin ito’
In a letter sent to Estrada after the hearing through the office of Sen. Robin Padilla, the chairman of the committee on public information and mass media, Nones said, “I am writing to sincerely apologize for my conduct during the Senate hearing earlier today.”
“I recognize that my words and tone may have come across as disrespectful, and I deeply regret allowing my emotions to get the best of me,” Nones continued.
Nones stressed that it was not his intention to be “disrespectful” to Estrada and the Senate, saying he respects them as national leaders.
“The anxiety and stress I’ve been experiencing due to my detention unfortunately clouded my judgment, and I did not express myself in the manner intended,” Nones said. “I am committed to ensuring that my future interactions will reflect the respect and professionalism that your positions deserve.”
“Thank you for your understanding, and I hope to demonstrate through my actions that this was an isolated incident,” he concluded.
Images: Office of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada
Nones has been detained since Aug. 19 after Estrada cited him for contempt for denying that he offered to donate money to a chosen charity by Sandro’s father, actor Niño Muhlach, allegedly as settlement.
Nones’ co-accused, GMA independent contractor Richard Cruz, was not able to attend the Aug. 27 Senate hearing due to hospitalization for gastrointestinal bleeding.