Hontiveros calls for inquiry into alleged Miss Earth sexual harassment

FILE: Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros (Photo: Senator Risa Hontiveros/Facebook)

An opposition lawmaker is pushing for a Senate inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment made by three Miss Earth 2018 candidates against one of the pageant’s sponsor.

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, November 11, filed Senate Resolution No. 932, calling for a probe into the incidents of sexual harassment that reportedly victimized the three candidates of this year’s Miss Earth pageant, stressing that such acts should be given “zero tolerance.”

“Sexual harassment has no place anywhere, especially in a pageant that claims to uphold the value and power of women,” Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, said.

“At a time when women and girls are battered by rape jokes, sexual violence, and sex for freedom cases, it is imperative that sexual harassment of any kind, shape or form be brought out into the open,” she added.

The Senator filed the resolution after three Miss Earth candidates — Jaime Vandenberg of Canada, Abbey-Anne Gyles-Brown of England, and Emma Mae Sheedy of Guam — shared through their social media accounts their supposed experience of sexual harassment allegedly committed by a male pageant sponsor, identified as Amado S. Cruz.

According to Vandenberg, who did not push through with the competition, Cruz got her mobile number without her consent and kept calling her to ask for her hotel and room number. She added that Cruz also offered her help to get further in the pageant in exchange for sexual favors.

Sheedy, meanwhile, said Cruz grabbed her bare backside during the National Costume Competition, but she was able to push him away. The latter, she added, told her not to tell anyone about any of the instances.

Gyles-Brown, who had also experienced sexual advances from Cruz, shared that she and Vandenberg approached their team managers to bring up their concerns “only to be laughed at.”

The British representative added that she even talked to Lorraine Schuck, executive vice president of Miss Earth organizer Carousel Productions, who told her that Cruz will be “removed from all contact with contestants, however, Gyles-Brown said it did not happen.

Schuck, in an interview with GMA News Online, said she talked to Gyles-Brown and told her not to worry as Cruz will not be a judge in the pageant and that the official will ban him in their events. Since the coronation night was a public event, Schuck admitted that they had no control of the attendees, but assured the safety of the candidates as they have their own police escorts with them.

Cruz earlier denied allegations of misconduct thrown against him by the three Miss Earth candidates in an interview with ABS-CBN, while a staff of him told GMA News TV that Cruz cannot commit such accusations as her boss is already “old” and “weak.”

Hontiveros said Cruz should not be the only one to be held accountable for the incident, but also the organizers of the event.

“I am surprised that despite reports of sexual harassment, the sponsor was still allowed to see the candidates in succeeding events. This shows disregard for their welfare and a flippant attitude towards the handling of this case,” the lady senator said.

“This cannot be allowed to pass un-addressed. This inquiry seeks to shed light on the true events of the case, and to aid in the future protection of women from sexual harassment. No woman should ever be a victim, whatever country they come from,” she added.

Before the lawmaker, women’s group Gabriela called for a probe into the sexual harassment issue and urged other Miss Earth hopefuls and contestants of other beauty contests to break their silence and speak against same incidents and file legal action against perpetrators.

“The climate of impunity against misogynist acts like these, boosted by a misogynist leader, is a grave cause of concern that must be immediately addressed,” Gabriela said.