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Throughout questioning by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Nones repeatedly invoked his right against self-incrimination, saying the alleged rape is already subject to a separate criminal investigation.

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Sandro-Muhlach-08012024

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">MANILA — GMA Network Actor Sandro Muhlach testified in great detail on what happened to the night of his alleged rape by two of the network independent contractors while one of them, Jojo Nones, will be detained at the Senate for refusing to answer questions.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Throughout questioning by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Nones repeatedly invoked his right against self-incrimination, saying the alleged rape is already subject to a separate criminal investigation.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Muhlach, who attended the Senate hearing remotely, said he had gone to the room of Nones and Richard Cruz, whom he described as very drunk.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Pinakilala po ako ni Sir Jojo … na ‘Si Sandro ‘to, anak ni Niño. Magaling na artista it. Magaling na kontrabida ito. Ika-cast ko ito soon.’ Ganoon po usapan,&quot; Muhlach told the panel.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(Sir Jojo introduced me. ‘He’s the son of Niño. He’s a good actor and will be cast soon,’ that kind of thing)</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Cruz was not at the hearing to confront the allegations as he is in the hospital for gastro-intestinal bleeding.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/8/9/2-accused-in-sandro-muhlach-complaint-respond-with-absolute-denial-1712">READ: 2 accused in Sandro Muhlach complaint respond with &#x27;absolute denial&#x27; — lawyer</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Muhlach said that Nones then gave him wine and a P500 bill before bringing out a “white substance” that he chopped up using the hotel key card.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Tapos ayun po, tinuruan po niya ako kung paano gamitin po ‘yung substance.</p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Nauna po sila suminghot ni Dode Cruz, sila pong dalawa, then ako po yung pinasunod nila,” he said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(And then they taught me how to use it. The two of them snorted it first then they had me do it.)</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">After a few minutes, Nones pulled him onto the hotel bed, where Cruz removed Muhlach’s polo shirt, the young actor told senators. </p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">He said Nones later pulled his pants down while Cruz was sucking his nipples.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Muhlach answered in the affirmative when Estrada asked if the duo took turns with him.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="http://Jinggoy Estrada addresses backlash to handling of Sandro Muhlach, Gerald Santos in hearing">RELATED: Jinggoy Estrada addresses backlash to handling of Sandro Muhlach, Gerald Santos in hearing</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17247485064920827_02.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px" alt=" Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada grills GMA Network independent contractor Jojo Nones during a public hearing conducted by the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media Tuesday, August 27, 2024 on the policies of television networks and artist management agencies in relation to complaints of abuse and harassment and the privilege speech of Sen. Robinhood Padilla delivered on August 5. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"> Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada grills GMA Network independent contractor Jojo Nones during a public hearing conducted by the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media Tuesday, August 27, 2024 on the policies of television networks and artist management agencies in relation to complaints of abuse and harassment and the privilege speech of Sen. Robinhood Padilla delivered on August 5. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><strong>NONES SAYS HE WILL ANSWER ALLEGATIONS AT THE DOJ</strong></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Estrada then confronted Nones with Muhlach&#x27;s testimony, but he invoked his right against self incrimination.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Since the case is already at the [Department of Justice], we will  answer there, &quot; Nones said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">When asked about the “white substance”, Nones gave similar answers despite the threat of detention.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Congress has limited contempt powers in its conduct of hearings in aid of legislation.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“I’m just invoking my constitutional right. I don&#x27;t think it&#x27;s fair and proper that you detain me just because I invoke my constitutional right [against] self-incrimination,&quot; Nones said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Nones also refused to go into details, even on whether he gave Muhlach the wine as alleged.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;I promise you, you will stay there,&quot; Estrada replied as Nones stressed that the Senate is not a court of law and that he cannot be compelled to answer questions.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;The question I&#x27;m asking you is not an incriminating question, &quot; Estrada said,</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;Yes, but these are already details of the case…. I invoke my right [against] self-incrimination,&quot; Nones repeated.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;I also have my right to detain you.&quot; Estrada said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><strong>DIFFERENT VERSIONS</strong></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Asked what time Muhlach arrived at the hotel room, Nones said it was a little before 5 a.m. but soon again refused to answer questions on who was in the room and on what the substance they took was.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;Ako rin, may right bilang senador na i-cite ka rin in contempt eh,&quot; Estrada said in response to Nones citing his right against self-incrimination.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Nones said Muhlach left the hotel room — close to 7 a.m., he said — without incident.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;Nagpaalam po siya,&quot; Nones said. ”Sabi niya tintetext na siya ng girlfriend niya.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(He took his leave. He said his girlfriend was texting him)</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Nones said he did not say anything to Muchlach when he left, but the young actor had a different recollection of what happened.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">He said that Nones told him that what happened in the hotel room would stay there — meaning it would be a secret between them.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> &quot;Actually, bago pa po ako umalis, ayaw po nila ako paalisin. Gusto po nila mag-stay po ako doon hanggang check-out time ng hotel,” he said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(Actually, they didn’t want me to leave. They wanted me to stay at the hotel until check-out time)</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">He said that the two were pulling him back to bed and that Nones was trying to take his shoes off.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Gusto pa po niya ako pahigain, pero pinipilit ko na po silang makaalis ako,&quot; Muhlach said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(He wanted me to lie down again but I insisted on leaving)</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Nones said: “These are allegations po ‘di po ako nagsisinungaling (I am not lying) and these allegations we will answer in the proper forum since the case is already with the DOJ.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Estrada would go on to ask Nones if he and Cruz were both awake when Sandro left. But the question got the same response.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;I invoke my right to self incrimination…Everything we say here may be connected to the facts of an ongoing case,” he said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;I reiterate that you still be detained here,&quot; Estrada said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/7/padilla-aks-nbi-why-it-waited-for-complaint-in-sandro-muhlach-case-1915">RELATED: Padilla asks NBI why it waited for complaint in Sandro Muhlach case</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><strong>‘NO ATTEMPT AT SETTLEMENT’</strong></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Nones denied they tried to seek a settlement with the Muhlachs, clarifying they were only asked to meet with Niño and GMA Network Senior Vice President Annete Gozon-Valdes, who had arranged the meeting.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> &quot;Sinabi po na may allegations po against us ni Sandro and then we said ‘sige po, willing kaming harapin siya,&quot; Nones said. </p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(We were told there were allegations against us from Sandro, and we said ‘yes, we are willing to meet about that’)</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">He said that he and Cruz’s willingness to meet with the elder Muhlach and Gozon-Valdes “is a clear indication of our innocence of the allegations.&quot;</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Sandro’s father Niño said, though, that Gozon-Valdes had told him that she had talked to the two and that they had told her that they thought what happened was consensual.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Kaya sila nag-sorry, kaya kami nagkita because they wanted to say sorry because they thought it was okay — they thought it was consensual,” he said, adding Nones and Cruz have changed their narrative.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Even in Ms. Annette&#x27;s affidavit, it said that you thought Sandro was comfortable with it. But, really, he’s not. Kaya nga nagreklamo yung bata eh (That’s why he filed a complaint),” Niño said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">He said that the two were in tears at the meeting, where they insisted on their innocence.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“So bakit kayo umiiyak? Tanong ko lang and we also have the CCTV nung lumabas sila ng Hyatt umiiyak sila. That just proves na they&#x27;re lying,&quot; Nino said earlier in the hearing.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(So why were you crying? And we also have the CCT footage of you leaving Hyatt in tears. That just proves they’re lying)</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Nones refused to answer the question, maintaining he already answered it.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;I already answered this question…you didn&#x27;t accept my answer so I invoke my right [against] self-incrimination this is my constitutional right.&quot;</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Estrada said he is keeping Nones detained.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;I know your rights, you&#x27;re always trying to evade the questions that are not incriminating to yourself at the very start of this hearing. You get a court order for you to be released here,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-5hXeYiy0bI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Throughout questioning by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Nones repeatedly invoked his right against self-incrimination, saying the alleged rape is already subject to a separate criminal investigation.</p>

Sandro Muhlach testifies at Senate hearing on alleged rape

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Sandro Muhlach testifies at Senate hearing on alleged rape

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 27, 2024 05:09 PM PHT

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Sandro Muhlach

Jojo Nones

Jinggoy Estrada

rape

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