TV5 program manager who allegedly abused talent dismissed, facing criminal cases
Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo said a program manager of TV5 had been dismissed—and is facing criminal cases—after his alleged sexual harassment of a former talent in the network.
Tulfo, in a statement posted on the Facebook page of his news program Raffy Tulfo in Action, said he reached out to TV5 Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan amid the investigation on Cliff Gingco of the network's News and Public Affairs division and a talent.
"At lumitaw sa imbestigasyon na may matibay na basehan ang reklamo laban kay Gingco kaya nagdesisyon ang TV5 na tanggalin siya sa trabaho," Tulfo said.
Tulfo said he sent a letter to Pangilinan regarding the incident to ensure fairness in the investigation and avoid cover-ups.
Pangilinan responded to him promptly, and the chairman was glad that Tulfo wrote him a letter.
"Idinagdag din ni Chairman MVP na ang TV5 ay magbibigay ng buong suporta sa biktima, partikular na ang medical assistance gaya ng therapy at iba pang kakailanganin nito," Tulfo said, adding that investigation and justice were swift.
Gingco, meanwhile, will be facing criminal cases following the allegations.
Tulfo didn't specify the cases but told the public they would give updates over the coming days.
On Aug. 9, the talent called for help on Raffy Tulfo in Action.
The talent detailed his experience, saying he worked as a researcher of the investigative show Budol Alert on July 15.
He claimed that Gingco invited him for drinks on July 22. He recalled Gingco urging him to drop his things off in a hotel in Pasig instead of his dorm out of convenience, especially since he came all the way from Batangas.
Gingco and the talent then went to Poblacion to drink. Upon going back to the hotel, at around 1:30 a.m., the talent alleged Gingco of sexually assaulting him.
He said he immediately reported the incident to the Ortigas Police sub-station, TV5's executives, and the HR management.
At the time his program was airing, Tulfo learned that Gingco was still on duty. The talent also said he got kicked out of the show even as his executive producer gave him P5,000.