Senator seeks inquiry on alleged Miss Earth sexual harassment

By CNN Philippines staff

Updated 15:59 PM PHT Mon, November 12, 2018

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 12) — An opposition lawmaker on Monday called for an inquiry on alleged sexual harassment that hounded the Miss Earth pageant.

Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution 932, which called for the probe based on the public complaints of three Miss Earth 2018 candidates against a pageant sponsor.

Miss Earth-Canada Jaime Yvonne Vandenberg, Miss Earth-England Abbey-Anne Gyles-Brown, and Miss Earth-Guam Emma Mae Sheedy all revealed personal experiences with the sponsor, a certain Amado Cruz, who supposedly asked sexual favors.

Hontiveros said sexual harassment and violence 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 said in a statement.

"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."

Hontiveros said both the alleged harasser and event organizers should be held responsible. She added she was surprised the sponsor was still allowed to see the candidates in other events despite the complaints.

"This shows disregard for their welfare and a flippant attitude towards the handling of this case. 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," Hontiveros said.

CNN Philippines earlier learned Cruz has been unofficially sponsoring meals and dinners for the women for at least five years now since he owns a restaurant near the hotels of the contestants.

Lorraine Schuck, founder and executive vice president of the production outfit that runs the pageant, said they will ban the alleged sponsor from the pageant's next events.

Meanwhile, all three candidates decried the lack of support from the organization, saying concerned authorities did not act on their separate complaints.

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/11/12/hontiveros-inquiry-miss-earth-sexual-harassment.html