A Senate panel on Monday, August 19, cited in contempt Jojo Nones, one of the respondents in the sexual harassment case filed by actor Sandro Muhlach.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada made the motion during the third hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media chaired by Senator Robinhood Padilla in relation to complaints of alleged abuse and sexual harassment.

Estrada questioned Nones regarding a certain offer the latter made during a meeting with Sandro's father Niño and Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, GMA Network's Senior Vice President for Programming which involved donating to a charitable institution of Niño's liking.

In the previous hearing, Nones denied making the offer but Niño said that Gozon was present during their meeting to prove his claim.

Estrada then presented a signed affidavit from Gozon wherein she stated that Nones offered the donation which Niño declined, stating that they will pursue their case against Nones and Richard Cruz.

"I was asking you a while ago, if you offered Mr. Niño Muhlach financial contribution to any charitable institution of his own choice and then you denied it. Now here comes the affidavit signed by Atty. Annette who I think this person is very credible saying that you indeed offered financial contribution to any charitable institution of his choice," he said.

"Maliwanag na maliwanag dito sa affidavit na nagsisinungaling ka (It's very clear in this affidavit that you are lying)," he added.

Nones still denied this and stated that no offer of "settlement" was made. This irked Estrada who then made the motion to cite Nones in contempt.

"I did not ask if it's a settlement or not. The only question I'm asking you is that if you offered financial contribution. I did not say it's a settlement. You're putting words into my mouth. Mr. Chair, I move that he be cited in contempt," he said.

Estrada said that they were trying to ferret out the truth and that if the respondents would continue to lie, they would end up being cited in contempt.

"Maliwanag na maliwanag na dito sa affidavit, maliwanag na maliwanag na sinabi ni Sandro, may drugs pa involved, may sexual harassment na involved, hindi na nga sexual harassment eh, assault eh. Dahil pinagsamantalahan niyo yung bata, pinagtake niyo ng drugs saka niyo pinagsamantalahan (It's clear in this affidavit, it's clear in what Sandro said, there are even drugs involved, there's sexual harassment involved, it's not even sexual harassment, it's assault. You raped the kid, you have him drugs before you raped him)," he added.

Nones said that at this point, these are merely allegations and that they deny them.