Richard Cruz, Jojo Nones deny abusing Sandro Muhlach, but senators say there's 'strong evidence' against them
GMA Network's two independent contractors denied the sexual harassment allegations of Sparkle artist Sandro Muhlach during a Senate hearing on Aug. 12. However, senators said there's "strong evidence" against them.
Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz appeared at the hearing after being subpoenaed for missing the Aug. 10 session.
They pointed out that they aren't avoiding the investigation, but had to skip the hearing for fear of being subjected to "media circus" and "premature trial."
"Natakot din kami na malabag namin ang confidentiality ng imbestigasyon na isinasagawa ng NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] nang nagsimula na ang mga panahong iyon at nagpapatuloy pa rin sa ngayon," Nones said, adding they were advised to not disclose their counter-allegations in public yet as the NBI is still vetting them.
"Lahat pa raw po ng hawak ng NBI ay hindi pa ebidensiya hangga't hindi pa napapasa sa piskalya," he added.
Cruz, meanwhile, said they never sexually abused Muhlach.
"Mariin pong itinatanggi namin ang lahat ng mapanirang akusasyon na ito laban sa amin," he said.
He also debunked claims that they are powerful and influential, especially toward GMA's artists, as they're independent contractors and not executives of the network.
"Sinabi naman po ng GMA na hindi kami regular employee ng network," Cruz added. "Alam po namin na konting pagkakamali lamang na nagawa namin sa produksiyon ay maaaring ma-terminate ang aming kontrata at mawalan kami ng trabaho."
He said they were shocked by the allegations made against them.
Cruz pointed out that they've been in the industry for nearly 30 years and no complaints were filed against them until now. Over the years, he said they gave GMA top-rated shows and are maintaining their images.
"Maganda po ang takbo ng aming karera," Cruz said. "Maitatanong niyo po sa aming mga nakatrabaho at masasabi naman po namin na iginagalang kami at naging malinis po ang reputasyon namin."
"Kaya hindi po namin sisirain ang iniingatan naming pangalan, karera, at reputasyon para makapang-abuso o harass ng isang tao," he said.
Nones said they are aware that Muhlach is from a powerful showbiz family, so it's least likely that they'd commit wrongdoing toward him.
"Ano naman po ang laban naming mga ordinaryong manggagawa lamang laban sa kanila?" he said.
Cruz and Nones also confirmed that they're gay, saying it's what paved for their creativity, artistry, and other skills needed in showbiz.
Nones, however, called out the homophobic attacks against them.
"Buong buhay namin ginamit namin ang pagiging bakla namin sa maayos na paraan para maitaguyod ang aming pamilya," Nones said. "Kaya napakasakit sa amin at sa aming pamilya na mabasa ang aming mga pangalan online na may caption na bakla o kung ano-anong masasakit at mapanirang puri na bansag at description."
He also stressed that being gay doesn't mean they're abusers.
"Bakla kami, oo, pero hindi kami gumagawa ng masama sa kapwa," Nones said. "Bakla kami, oo, at may takot po kami sa Diyos."
They asked the public not to treat them as "convicted criminals" as the investigation is still ongoing.
"Kaya po naming patunayan sa piskalya o anumang korte na wala kaming kasalanan. Hintayin lang po sana natin ang proseso," Nones said.
They also left a message for Muhlach: "Wala kaming ginawang masama sa iyo, alam mo 'yan sa puso mo. Hindi pa huli ang lahat na magsabi ng totoo."
'Strong evidence'
However, senators believe there is "strong evidence" against Nones and Cruz.
"Sa tingin namin mayroon pong kaukulan na dahilan para mai-file yung kaso," Sen. Robin Padilla said.
Padilla noted that the Senate is not a trial court, but what they've learned so far in an executive session must reach proper authorities.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada backed Padilla, though refused to give details regarding the executive session.
"We cannot divulge yet the details of what transpired during the executive session," Estrada said. "But what we all transpired and agreed... there is strong evidence against these two gentlemen."
They would “just withhold all the information until all pieces of evidence to be gathered by the NBI are in," Estrada said, adding the agency has two days to "receive the pieces of evidence."
Text exchanges
Garduque previously told PhilSTAR L!fe that Cruz and Nones will ask to dismiss the case “not only for lack of evidence to substantiate the elements of sexual harassment/sexual assault, [but] worse, his evidence is contrary to his allegations.” They claimed that Muhlach messaged Nones first on the night of the GMA Gala last July 21.
However, Niño debunked the claims, revealing the text exchange between the producer and his son.
"Nainsulto talaga ako noong sinabi nila sa media na si Sandro ang unang nag text eh. I’m just—that’s why I’m doing this for my son and for all the others na dumaan sa ganitong sitwasyon na walang kakayahan lumaban," said Niño, who started to read the conversation between the two.
"'Hi, Sandro. Saw you kanina, didn’t get to say hi. Nakauwi ka na?'" said Niño, attributing that the message from Nones.
Muhlach replied: "Sir Jojo, sorry po. Di po kita nakita kanina. Naka check-in po kami right now sa Marriott, Sir. Hope to see you soonest, Sir Jojo."
Nones continued the conversation with Muhlach, asking about his whereabouts. They exchanged pleasantries, and Nones even expressed interest in casting the young actor in an upcoming project.
The conversation took a suggestive turn when Nones invited Sandro to his hotel room, saying they "can order some more" alcohol.
Muhlach asked about who else was in the room, to which Nones initially replied that he was alone.
“Syempre, yung bata, nakita na siya lang mag isa, hindi na sumagot. Natakot,” Niño explained.
But then by 4:27 a.m. Nones texted again saying he was actually with other "drama" people. Muhlach replied: "Nandyan pa ba kayo, Sir? Baka po pwedeng dumaan saglit hahahaha."
“Siyempre, kahit sinong artista na baguhan, given the chance na makasama mo ang drama [people], you will take the chance dahil pagkakataon mo ‘yun i-market yung sarili mo eh. Makasama sila, maka-party mo,” the former child actor said during the hearing.
Following this, Niño asked Nones’ legal counsel, Maggie Abraham-Garduque, why they were making it seem that his son was the one who started the conversation.
Abraham-Garduque replied: “Your honor, we have no... wala po kaming pinapalabas sa media na si Sandro ang unang nag text. We just mentioned that there was a message like that.” She added that that was not their intention.
Formal complaint
On Aug. 1, GMA said it received a formal complaint from Muhlach against Nones and Cruz, but the network did not specify the issue.
Noting that it's "respecting Sandro's request for confidentiality," the network said its investigating body will withhold all details of the formal investigation until its conclusion.
On Aug. 2, Muhlach and his father Niño went to the NBI to formally file a sexual molestation complaint against Nones and Cruz.
Four days later, Muhlach returned to the NBI office to submit more documents.
Before the formal filing of complaints happened, the names of Muhlach, Nones, and Cruz were making the rounds on social media after a local entertainment news website published a blind item claiming that two program executives harassed a newbie artist in a hotel room.
The alleged incident happened while an extravagant gathering took place on the hotel's premises, the report said.
GMA recently held its gala night last July 20 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Newport Pasay City.
Nones and Cruz are seeking to dismiss Sandro's formal complaint before GMA Network.
They also filed a counter-affidavit before the NBI.
