By NEIL RAMOS
NEWS anchor and reporter Gretchen Fullido filed a sexual harassment complaint against several ABS-CBN executives at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, Friday.
This was announced on Facebook by her legal counsel, Atty. Marvin B. Aceron.
Named as subject of the complaints are former ABS-CBN News executive Cheryl Favila and ABS-CBN News segment producer na si Maricar Asprec.
In the statement, Fullido alleged “Favila and Asprec sent her text messages that were loaded with sexual innuendos, which amounted to requests for sexual favors.
“She further stated that when she rejected the advances, the two retaliated and made it difficult for her to work as a reporter and news anchor for TV Patrol.
“It was a cycle that was going on for almost three years.”
Named in a separate libel complaint stemming from the same issue are broadcast journalist Cecilia “Ces” Drilon, news executive Venancio Borromeo, and showbiz news reporter Marie Lozano.
Fullido alleged “the three besmirched her reputation when they stated that she filed a similar sexual harassment complaint against Favila and Asprec with ABS-CBN management to leverage her employment status with ABS-CBN.
“Fullido in her Complaint Affidavit also said Drilon resorted to victim shaming and imputed statements that Fullido deserved to be harassed, since Fullido allegedly, was willing to wear a bikini with an inflatable pool with bubbles to shove up the ratings of TV Patrol, a leading daily news program.”
The statement said ABS CBN investigated the matter ultimately finding Favila “liable for Gross Misconduct,” which resulted in her being fired.
This was acknowledged by ABS CBN in a statement.
It said:
“When Ms. Fullido filed an administrative case against a supervising producer and a segment producer for alleged sexual harassment in November 2017, the company took prompt action on the administrative complaint and decided based on the evidence presented.”
As to Fullido now coming forward and bringing her complaint to the court, it said:
“ABS-CBN respects the right of news anchor and reporter Gretchen Marie Fullido to bring her sexual harassment complaint to the courts.
“Now that she has filed charges with the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, we expect all parties to allow the legal process to take its course.
The company added, “ABS-CBN takes sexual harassment seriously and does not condone such acts in the workplace or by its employees.”
Drilon has responded to the allegations via Twitter.
She said:
“It pains me to have to issue this statement because women should support each other, especially in an issue like sexual harassment.
“Throughout my life, I have been an advocate of women’s rights and women’s empowerment.
“As a victim of sexual harassment once before, it is unthinkable for me to say what Gretchen Fullido alleges I did.
“I encourage and support women to exercise their right to come out with truthful stories of harassment and abuse and I would never belittle any such move.
“I was asked to testify in an internal, confidential investigation into Gretchen’s allegations and some of what I said during the investigation has been distorted.
“I reserve the right to consider legal proceedings against these false allegations and attack on my reputation.
“Again I would never belittle any women coming out to speak of any abuse committed against her.
“It is against everything I stand for as a woman.”
Note Drilon was being bashed on social media after Fullido’s complaint was made public.
Some celebrities, meanwhile, have come out to air support for Fullido, including former actress Isabel Rivas and model Ambra Gutierrez, who, notably was among those who first filed a complaint against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Fullido is now considered the first ever Filipino celebrity to speak up against sexual harassment going far as to actually name names.
Some are hoping that with her coming out, many others in the industry would be emboldened enough to actually follow suit mirroring the raging #metoo movement in the US.
