THE Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media on Monday ordered the detention of Jojo Nones, one of two independent contractors of GMA Network accused of sexually assaulting Sandro Muhlach, after he was cited for contempt for continuous lying.
Senator Robinhood Padilla, the committee chairperson, approved the detention upon the motion of Senate President Pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada.
During the hearing, Estrada repeatedly gave Nones the opportunity to reveal the truth but the latter denied the accusations specifically on the offer to Niño Muhlach, Sandro’s father, that they would provide a donation to a charitable institution of their choice in exchange for forgiveness.
The elder Muhlach said the offer was made in the presence of GMA Network, Inc. Senior Vice President Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, who signed an affidavit that the offer indeed happened.
“I was asking you a while ago if you offered Mr. Niño Muhlach financial contribution to any charitable institution of his own choice and you denied it, Now, here comes the affidavit signed by Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes who, I think, is a very credible person, saying that you did offer financial contributions to any charitable institution of his choice. What can you say?” a visibly irked Estrada said.
Nones denied it, and also repeatedly belied the allegations that he and Richard Cruz, the other accused, told Sandro to use drugs before they sexually assaulted the actor.
“Maliwanag na maliwanag na sinabi ni Sandro may drugs na involved. May sexual harassment na involved. Hindi nga lang sexual harassment eh, assault. Pinagsamantalahan niyo ‘yung bata, pinag-take niyo ng drugs ‘tsaka niyo pinagsamantalahan,” Estrada said.
Estrada said they would only release Nones from Senate custody once he speaks the truth about the allegations.
Sandro appeared virtually during the hearing as his counsel sought for an executive session to further reveal what transpired.
The camp of Muhlach formally filed a complaint of rape through sexual assault against Nones and Cruz before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday. (PNA)
