MANILA -- GMA Network independent contractors Richard Cruz and Jojo Nones came face to face at the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media with Nino Muhlach, the father of Sandro Muhlach who has filed a complaint against them for alleged sexual abuse.

Maintaining their innocence, Cruz and Nones were questioned by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada about the circumstances of the incident.

Muhlach said they consulted with Senator Bong Revilla after Sandro told him of his allegation. He said they initially wanted to settle the matter internally.

"Ang naisip kong unang gawin was go to Senator Bong Revilla at si Senator Bong naman yung nagsabi na if you wanna go to the NBI we can go to the NBI pero dahil nga syempre bilang magulang gusto ko sana protektahan muna sana yung anak ko ayoko sanang may maka-alam so we went through the channel, we went to Ms. Annette Gozon, we were trying to fix it internally pero I didn't know how to do it internally pero magsasampa pa rin kami ng kaso. Di po ba," Nino told the hearing as he maintained he did not know how the media, specifically entertainment vlogger Ogie Diaz came to know and report the incident."

"We have other witnesses kasi I don't kung paano nagleak talaga and then so it took 10 days bago namin naifile kasi nga po nagkita kami ni Annette Gozon at yun nga hinarap niya sa akin yung dalawa doon sa bahay ni Ms. Annette Gozon and nag apologize sila sa akin," Muhlach said.

He explained that he understood that apology to be an apology for the alleged incident.

"What did they do? Did they admit it to you that they did something untoward," Estrada said.

"Sen, when they said sorry siyempre naintindihan ko na yun kung ano yung kwento ng anak ko, yun na yun. di ba and then they said akala daw nila okay lang but clearly," Muhlach replied.

"Akala nila consensual," Estrada said.

"Yes Sen. but clearly kung okay lang di wala kami sana rito ngayon saka di sana nag-iiyak yung anak ko yun po and Ms. Annette Gozon was our witness  when we had that meeting," Muhlach said.

Later in the hearing, Nones confirmed saying sorry to Muhlach when they met in Gozon's presence, but he maintained it was not an admission of guilt.

"Your honor ang sabi po namin kay Nino we're very very sorry pero wala po kaming ginawang masama sa anak niya," Nones said. "We did not apologize ang context po is sorry pero wala po kaming ginawang masama sa anak niyo."

"Ang context po kasi yung parang sorry pero wala po kaming ginawang masama sa anak ninyo," Nones said.

Muhlach would stand by his story. "Ay talagang umiiyak sila noong nag-sorry sila they were crying both of them they even offered to donate a certain amount to a charitable institution of my choice para lang ma-settle yung ano ang sagot ko sa kanila, ang sagot ko po sa kanila, ako tao lang ako Diyos nga marunong magpatawad  kaya ko kayo patawarin pero kailangan pagbayaran niyo yung ginawa niyo," he said.

Nones denied offering to donate to charity.

Estrada asked Nones if he texted Sandro to come over to their hotel room, which Nones denied.

"Did you have the copy of the text messages, kasi dinelete mo lahat eh. Dinelete mo lahat yung mga messages eh do you have a copy of the text messages, you sure pag nirecover namin sa Globe yan o sa Smart yan pakukulong kita rito now you better the whole the truth," Estrada said.

"I am telling the truth. Di po sa akin nanggaling kay Sandro po mismo nanggaling," Nones claimed. "Siya po yung mismo yung nagsabi  na andiyan pa ba kayo sir."

Estrada would then claim Sandro appeared hesitant to come over.

"We'll go to that, allegedly you texted Sandro if you can come over to the room which you deny apparently Sandro asked if who was with you nag-text back si Sandro at ang reply mo, just me. Sandro never replied. wait lang. Base sa imbestigasyon ko lang ito. Syempre natakot sinabi just me after a while you texted again and told Sandro the context of your text was joke at sinabi mo you were in the company of some of the creatives, yes or no?" Estrada said.

"Ang eksaktong text ko po I'm with drama peeps but wrapping up na," Nones said.

"Yes but you texted him joke, correct?" Estrada said.

"Sandro did not reply and then when you replied joke I was with some of the creatives correct," Estrada said.

"Yes po but I also said po we're wrapping up na kasi I didn't want him to think po that anything about the just me text," Nones said.

"Sandro obliged to the invitation of Jojo at doon na nagtext si Sandro na pwede ba dumaan diyan sino sino pa kayo andiyan yun yung lumalabas sa social media na di naman kinover  kung ano yung prior conversation correct," Estrada said.

"Wala pong invitation wala pong direct invitation from me from myself siya po nagsabi na pwede pa ba..." Nones said.

"Kasi prior to that inimbitahan mo nga eh wag ka na magdeny, iniimbitahan mo na nga to come over your room tapos tinanong nga ni Sandro sino andiyan at sinabi mo me only ako lang tapos biglang sinabi di na nagreply sinabi mo joke I'm with some creatives," Estrada said.

Nones then asked for an executive session.

"These are already facts of the case. There was no direct invitation from me. I was just being polite and  kind because he is my friend but there was no direct invitation in fact bago po siya sinabing akyat siya I said we're wrapping up." Nones said.

Muhlach's counsel Czarina Quintanilla-Raz informed the panel they have a copy of the text messages but they cannot be shown yet because of the rules of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Estrada proceeded to say that Sandro was surprised to see that only Nones and Cruz were in the room.

"Nung umakyat na rin si Sandro, when you invited him, Sandro was in his room together with his girlfriend and apparently informed his girlfriend that he was going to the room of Jojo and company upon entering the room Sandro was surprised since it was only Jojo and Richard who were there in the room, correct?" Estrada said.

"Your honor di po alam kung nasurprise," Nones said.

Estrada then asked if Nones offered Sandro wine.

"That's your word. Did you offer Sandro glass of wine?" Estrada said.

"No your honor when he arrived he asked if he could drink the wine that was there on the ledge," Nones said.

"Did you give a 500 bill that was wrapped like a straw?" Estrada said.

"No," Nones said.

Estrada would then referred to a substance.

"Apparently you poured a powder substance powdery substance," Estrada said.

Nones reiterated his request for an executive session.

"No your honor these are already very details that need to be discussed in an executive session," Nones said.

This time, Estrada acceded and moved for the closed door session.

Emerging from the executive session, Senators said they felt there was basis for the case.

"Napagdesisyunan po ng komite na tunay po na sa tingin po namin meron pong kaukulan na dahilan para mai-file yung kaso pero syempre po tulad po ng sinasabi namin hindi naman kami korte sa amin pong palagay itong aming pagdinig kailangan syempre may boses ang lahat pero doon po sa naganap na executive session, malinaw po sa aming pagkakaintindi na ito po ay makakarating dapat sa dapat karatingan," Senator Robin Padilla said.

"Based on the discussions earlier during the executive session and of course we cannot divulge first yet the details of what transpired during the executive session but what we all understand right now and we agreed together with Senators Revilla, Padilla, Poe, Grace Poe and Senator Bato dela Rosa there is a strong evidence against these 2 gentlemen. So we'll just hold it we will just withold all the information until all the pieces of evidence that are going to be gathered by the NBI are in. The committee has given them 2 days to receive all the pieces of evidence so maybe we can schedule the next hearing on Thursday, together with all the parties concerned," Estrada said.

Muhlach allowed the release of the text messages to show that it was Nones and not Sandro who initiated the exchange of text messages, which the Nones camp did not deny.

Estrada then asked the Nones camp if they maintain that no drugs was involved, but Nones' lawyer invoked their right against self-incrimination.

Nones later denied that drugs were involved.

"Wala pong nabubuking at wala po kaming inaaming allegations were denying all allegations we're just respectfully we have constitutional rights too and we just want our rights to be protected in this forum. There's a process that's ongoing, there's a case filed against us and we would like to answer that in the proper forum thats why we're invoking that but not because we are guilty. We maintain our innocence. we are not guilty I have said this over and over when he asked us. I said no, wala kaming ginawa masama sa anak mo," Nones said.

Before this, Cruz and Nones came out to deny allegations of wrongdoing.

"Opo, kami po ang independent contractors ng GMA Network na tinutukoy  sa mga online post 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 tinatanggi po namin ang lahat ng mapanirang akusasyon na ito laban sa amin. Kami po ay hindi executives ng GMA Network tulad ng mga lumalabas. Taliwas sa mga sinasabi sa online, wala po kaming kapangyarihan or impluwensiya sa network lalong lalo na sa mga artista nito."

"Sinabi naman po ng GMA na di kami regular employee ng network alam po namin na konting pagkakamali lamang na nagawa namin sa production ay maaring materminate ang aming kontrata at mawalan kami ng trabaho," Cruz said. "Subalit tumagal kami sa telebisyon ng more or less 30 years at bago ang pangyayaring ito ay malawak ang naging kontribusyon namin sa industriya sa telebisyon sa pamamagitan ng naiambag namin mga award winning at top rating television shows and teleseryes."

"Maganda po ang takbo ng aming karera maitatanong niyo po kami sa aming mga nakatrabaho at  masasabi naman po namin na ginagalang  kami at naging malinis po ang reputasyon namin  sa aming mga naging employer at nakatrabaho sa loob ng 30 taon," Cruz added. "Sa tinagal-tagal namin sa industriya, wala po kahit na isang reklamo, sexual man or anuman ang nagfile sa amin kaya di po namin sisirain ang iniingatan naming pangalan at karera at reputasyon para makapag abuso or harass ng isang taon."

"Lalo na po na alam namin na anak ng sikat na artista at ma-impluwensiyang pamilya. Ano ba naman po ang laban naming mga ordinaryong manggagawa lamang  laban sa kanila. Hindi naman po namin itinatangging bakla kami  sa katunayan ang pagiging bakla ang isa sa mga dahilan kaya kami naging creative artistic at nagkaroon ng skills na kailangan sa industriya," Nones said.

Nones protested the insults hurled against them online and appealed for justice.

"Buong buhay namin  ginamit namin ang pagiging bakla namin sa maayos na paraan para maitaguyod ang aming mga pamilya kaya napakasakit sa amin at sa aming mga pamilya na mabasa ang aming mga pangalan online na may caption at bakla at kung ano anong masasakit at  manirang puri na bansag at descriptions," Nones said. "Kay Sandro, wala kaming ginawang masama sa iyo at alam mo yan sa puso mo. Di pa huli ang lahat magsabi ng totoo."

Cruz and Nones also explained why they skipped the previous Senate committee hearing that resulted in the issuance of a subpoena compelling their attendance. 

They also apologized to the panel, citing their fears of being prejudged, and of violating confidentiality rules covering the investigation.