Estrada explains side on alleged victim blaming: 'It was never my intention'

Manila Bulletin

Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada addressed criticisms of victim blaming on Thursday, Aug. 22, in the way he questioned Gerald Santos and Sandro Muhlach in a recent Senate panel hearing, stating that it was never his intention to make it appear as such.  READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/22/estrada-explains-side-on-alleged-victim-blaming-it-was-never-my-intention-1

Transcript

00:00With regard to the criticisms that have been thrown against me, I will just issue a statement

00:09with regards to that.

00:11Okay.

00:12I understand that my recent questionings in the Senate hearing gave the public impression

00:18of me being harsh, insensitive, and apathetic.

00:24It was never, never my intention to victim-blame or humiliate those who have come out to disclose

00:31the tragic realities happening in the movie industry or the entertainment industry, but

00:38rather to address a systemic issue that has been hurting our artists and workers.

00:46My passionate approach, which did not sit well with the public monitoring the proceedings,

00:53stems from a deep frustration that these problems have persisted for years.

01:23In fact, I condemn all forms of violence regardless of gender, particularly those that

01:30have been perpetrated in the past, and I will not tolerate any kind of violence that has

01:37been perpetrated in the past.

01:39I will not tolerate any kind of violence that has been perpetrated in the past.

01:46In fact, I condemn all forms of violence regardless of gender, particularly in this industry where

01:56abuses, like what I am saying, have been ongoing for so long.

02:02You know, the exchange of bashings that I receive, or the anger of the public, is to

02:11continue to talk about abuse to small-scale artists or to the industry, so that there

02:18can be a broader awareness and movement against abuse, not just in the entertainment industry,

02:25but also in other sectors.

02:28I will accept that.

02:31In fact, it looks like the video footage was cut when we had the executive session,

02:40wherein I called Gerard Santos, and I talked to him candidly.

02:51Then I asked him what was his plan.

02:55He said he wanted to file a case after 19 years.

03:02He even went up to my office.

03:05He even thanked me.

03:07I said, okay, I will help you.

03:11He said he cannot afford the maternity fees.

03:20I said, okay, I will be willing to help you.

03:24In the case of Sandro, when I asked Sandro to narrate what happened, his lawyer stopped him.

03:41I was a bit off, because all the while I thought Sandro was already willing to narrate everything

03:50that transpired during that tragic evening.

03:56I was a bit mad at Sandro's lawyer for giving advice.

04:04For me, it's a wrong move that he didn't go through with what happened.

04:10But for me, if what he said is no longer for public consumption,

04:19I will let him stop, because it's not good anymore.

04:24That's why we had an executive session.

04:28Sir, do you think that the reason why the entire hearing was not watched

04:34was because you had an impression that you were being harsh to their victim?

04:38That's what I feel.

04:40But rest assured, I am with you all the way.

04:46To Sandro, to Gerard, and to all the victims of this type of abuse, I am with you.

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