MANILA, Philippines – GMA contractors Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz strongly denied that they sexually abused Kapuso young actor Sandro Muhlach.
Nones and Cruz finally appeared at the Senate hearing on public information and mass media after snubbing the initial invite for fear of being subjected to a public trial which they apologized for.
In an official statement, the two admitted that the subject of online posts and news items about network contractors having allegedly sexually abused Sandro was them.
“Opo, kami po ang independent contractors ng GMA network na tinutukoy sa mga online posts na kumalat noong mga nakaraang araw subalit hindi po kami gumawa ng kahit anong sexual harassment or abuse laban kay Sandro Muhlach,” Cruz said.
“Sa pagkakataong ito, sa harap ninyong lahat, mariing itinatanggi po namin ang lahat ng mapanirang akusasyon na ito laban sa amin,” he said.
They answered each point that made rounds on social media. Contrary to initial attributions to them in some posts and news stories, the two clarified that they are not executives and that they do not have influence or power to the network or its talents.
Nones and Cruz said they are no neophytes in television. Both having worked in the industry for nearly three decades, the two prove their character through impressions of people they worked with in the industry and the companies they worked for.
In the three decades they were on television, Cruz said they have never been subjected to any scandal, sexual or otherwise and would not inflict harm on anyone.
“Lalo na po at alam namin anak ng artista at maimpluwensyang pamilya. Ano ba naman ang laban naming mga ordinaryong manggagawa lamang laban sa kanila,” Nones said.
Nones and Cruz stressed that being gay never made them abusers.
“Bakla kami oo pero hindi kami mga abuser, bakla kami oo pero hindi kami gumagawa ng masama sa kapwa bakla kami oo at may takot po kami sa Diyos,” Nones said.
Nones and Cruz said their version of the truth completely counters Sandro’s claims.
“Kay Sandro, wala kaming ginawang masama sa’yo at alam mo ‘yan sa puso mo,” Nones said.
