Gretchen Fullido sues ABS-CBN colleagues for sexual harassment, libel

An ABS-CBN television personality has sued former and current colleagues for sexual harassment and libel.

Gretchen Fullido filed before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office filed a sexual harassment complaint against former executive producer Cheryl Favila and segment producer Maricar Asprec.

According to a statement posted online by lawyer Marvin Aceron, "Fullido alleged that Favila and Asprec sent her text messages that were loaded with sexual innuendos, which amounted to requests for sexual favors."

When Fullido refused, the two allegedly retaliated and made it difficult for her to work, a cycle that went on for three years.

Favila has reportedly been dismissed from ABS-CBN after being found guilt of gross misconduct in an administrative case filed by Fullido from the network. Fullido's sexual harassment case against the executive, however, was reportedly dismissed by the network.

Fullido also filed libel charges against ABS-CBN news executives Ces Drilon and Venancio Borromeo and reporter Marie Lozano, who allegedly "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."

In response, ABS-CBN said it respects Fullido's right to bring her complaint to court.

"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," it said.

"ABS-CBN takes sexual harassment seriously and does not condone such acts in the workplace or by its employees. 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." —JST, GMA News