Sen. Jinggoy Estrada draws flak for 'insensitive' attitude toward Sandro Muhlach during Senate hearing
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada is under fire for how he presided over the Senate committee hearing on the sexual harassment case involving Sparkle artist Sandro Muhlach and alleged abusers, GMA independent contractors Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz.
During the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media's hearing on Aug. 19, the actor appeared via Zoom with his lawyer Czarina Raz. Estrada asked him for details about the alleged incident, including whether Nones offered him wine and drank it.
"What else did he offer you?" the senator told Muhlach, who then replied, "I don't know po kung pwede ko sabihin ang buong details kasi it's really sensitive."
Estrada then let out an "Eh," adding, "Sige na, sabihin mo na."
Raz then told Estrada that "with all due respect," Nones and Cruz hadn't received the complaint yet. Muhlach filed a rape case against Nones and Cruz before the Department of Justice.
But Estrada cut Raz off, saying, "Oh, you want to have it in an executive session?"
Raz explained that the other party should receive the complaint first before discussing it.
"Also, medyo natitrigger pa po si Sandro although nilakasan niya ho talaga 'yung loob niya na magpakita today," she said. "Hindi niya kaya talaga na dire-diretso pag-usapan lahat ng detalye."
Estrada then said, "Alam niyo, 'pag hindi natin tatapusin ito, hahaba nang hahaba ito," as he can be seen putting down papers and apparently annoyed.
"You're wasting our time here eh," he said. "Magsasalita ba kayo o hindi? Kung hindi, aalis na ako rito."
Raz pointed out that they wanted to help the committee, only for Estrada to cut her off again.
"Yes, help this committee," he said. "Do you want to have an executive session or what?"
Raz said they want to, but without Nones and Cruz.
"Sige, leave," Estrada said.
Social media users react
X users blasted Estrada for his "insensitive" attitude during the hearing.
"Who are you to criticize a[n alleged] rape victim for not wanting to speak up?" a user said, quote-tweeting a video of the exchange. "It's not a waste of your time, it's your job! You are wasting the vote of those who voted for you. Why do people still vote for him?"
"Pilitin tlaga? How come hindi nakikita ng iba sa room na may problema sa pakikipagusap niya sa alleged victim? Simula pa lang, mainit na ang ulo ni Jinggoy Estrada. Kawawang Sandro Muhlach, dagdag trauma if ever," another one said.
A social media user also wrote, "How insensitive can you be? [Alleged] victim 'yang kausap mo."
Another one pointed out that Sandro's camp had a point. "Tama nga naman 'yung lawyer sa pagsabi na hintayin na matanggap ng kabilang panig yung kopya ng complaint para all parties are aware of the info na sasabihin nila kina Jinggoy. Ewan ko ba dito kay Jinggoy, napakabastos ng dating."
"I hope our senators learn some manners and know how to show respect and empathy. Ang hirap panoorin nito," a user said.
"Can someone handle this appropriately? Yung senador na marunong makiramdam lalo't lalo na this case is very sensitive and traumatic," a netizen added.
Another one stressed that Estrada "should understand the trauma of being raped." They added, "He clearly does not comprehend the depth of the victim's suffering."
In the same hearing, Estrada cited Nones in contempt for allegedly lying under oath multiple times. He was escorted by Senate guards to be brought to a detention cell.
PhilSTAR L!fe reached out to Estrada's office for comment but has yet to receive a reply.
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.
The next day, 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.
Nones and Cruz are seeking to dismiss Sandro's formal complaint before GMA Network. They also filed a counter-affidavit before the NBI.
They have repeatedly denied the allegations, despite senators saying there's "strong evidence" against them.