Artists perform scenes of groping and sexual harassment as they perform a fashion show at the Plaza Salamangka in Manila on Monday, June 25, 2018. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media on Thursday tackled how to strengthen the Safe Spaces Act in light of an actor's allegation that he was sexually harassed by 2 independent contractors of a TV network.

Panel chair Sen. Robinhood Padilla said the camps of actor Sandro Muhlach and his alleged abusers Richard Cruz and Jojo Nones were no longer invited in their latest inquiry. 

Muhlach filed a sexual molestation complaint against Cruz and Nones before the NBI.

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Padilla said Thursday's hearing would instead focus on measures to address any deficiencies of laws covering sexual abuse.

"Ang atin pong pagtalakay po ngayon kung ano po yung pwede nating linangin na mga batas patungkol po dito sa sexual harassment at rape, kung ano pa po yung mga matatawag nating medyo napaglumaan nang batas na kailangan nating amyendahan at kung ano po ba yung pwede nating gawing  mga bagong batas na tumatalakay na po sa kapantay na karapatan ng bawat kasarian," Padilla said.

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Both Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino and lawyer Lorna Kapunan said heads of workplaces, schools, and other similar places should be accountable for ensuring that these are truly safe spaces.

"I think it's about time that we strengthen and enhance existing legislation relative to the work place and I'm referring now to Republic Act 11313, the Safe Spaces Act... Is there really a need to strengthen not just existing laws but the self-policing regulatory mechanisms of those involved? We can even add sports activities," Tolentino said.

"Kung meron tayong babaguhing batas dito, ay di lamang para siguraduhin na ligtas yung mga andoon sa environment na yun kung di meron ding level of accountability."

Kapunan believes the existing law is not clear on the responsibilities of the heads of the establishment.

"Hindi po masyadong malinaw sa batas yung minention niyong Safe Spaces Act, yung Bawal Bastos Law, hindi masyadong malinaw sa batas ang talagang responsibility ito ng mga heads of establishment," Kapunan said.

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Kapunan supports the idea of presuming negligence on the part of the establishments in case they hire someone with prior records of such acts.

"So the presumption of negligence should be on the side of the head of the establishment," Kapunan said.

Kapunan likewise wants the Philippine government's Committees on Decorum and Investigation (CoDI) to observe rules on "diversity" by including members of the LGBT community.

Tolentino is looking at inserting a new provision in the existing law creating an alternative mechanism to the CoDI.

Padilla previously filed Senate Bill 2777 seeking stiffer penalties, including death for rape and sexual assault. 

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