00:00The Senate begins its probe on a supposed sexual harassment case involving individuals connected with a TV network today.
00:07The accused individuals did not attend the hearing, which did not sit well with one of the lawmakers who moved that they be summoned.
00:15Daniel Manalastas has the full details.
00:20The Senate panel started its hearing over the allegations of sexual abuse involving an alleged victim, a contract actor for the GMA network.
00:29The alleged victim did not appear during the hearing. Instead, his father, former child star Nino Mulac, faced the Senators and turned emotional.
00:59He's our head writer and I respect him very much. I can't accept what he did to me. I don't know him. I only met him when the incident happened, but I have a bad feeling about George Anonis.
01:29If only he could see my son. How could he do this to me?
01:40Right now, his son is undergoing counseling sessions. Mulac also hit those who tried to muddle the issue.
01:48I have a bad feeling that whoever is at fault is the one who is making up the story.
01:54I think anyone, father or parents, would feel the same way.
02:03The respondents did not attend the hearing, which did not sit well with the Senators.
02:08I just read the letter coming from Mr. Richard Cruz and Mr. George Anonis.
02:20I believe that the statements that have been stated here in this letter are unacceptable.
02:32I just would like to give a piece of advice to these two gentlemen. You know, if you are invited to the Senate, they move that we subpoena them, add testificandum on the next hearing.
02:51The two allegedly involved in acts of sexual harassment sent a letter to Senators denying the allegations.
02:58The JMA Network, for its part, assured it is focused on the issue and vowed to respond accordingly.
03:04They also clarified that the two are not regular employees of the network, but independent contractors.
03:10So what we did was we immediately issued a preventive suspension order to the two being accused by Mr. Sandro Mulac.
03:18And now we are waiting for their reply because, of course, we follow the procedures of due process, which is under the Constitution.
03:29We will conduct a fair and thorough investigation. It is in their contract that they are bound by the policies of GMA.
03:41The DOLA said even though they were not regular employees, they still need to answer in compliance with GMA 7 policy.
03:50In our department, our mandate is to ensure that every establishment performs a Committee on Decorum and Investigation and all of them must have an anti-sexual harassment policy.
04:05Daniel Manalastas from the National TV for a new and better Philippines.
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