Azkals players Angel Guirado and Lexton Moy react on sexual harassment complaint

MANILA, Philippines - Through the social networking site Twitter, Azkals players Angel Guirado and Lexton Moy reactedon the sexual harassment complaint filed against them by former Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president and current match commissioner Cristy Ramos.

“Mula sa Nepal [ay] sinagot ni Angel Guirado sa salitang Spanish ang sexual harassment complaint ni football match commissioner Cristy Ramos laban sa kanya at isa pang miyembro ng Azkals na si Lexton Moy,” Dyan Castillejo reported on “TV Patrol,” March 7.

“Sabi ni Guirado sa kanyang Twitter account, hindi niya maintindihan ang kayang gawin ng mga tao para makakuha lang ng atensyon. Normal lang daw para sa mga players ang naka-brief kapag nasa locker room bago ang game,” Castillejo added.

“Giit niya, mabigat na paratang ang sexual harassment kaya dapat raw kunin muna ang kanyang panig bago ilabas ang balita.”

An English translation of Guirado’s Spanish tweet was flashed on screen, which read: “Thank you. It is very hard to perceive what people can do to get some attention. First, I was in short pants, and that being in my underwear is normal in the locker room changing for the game. What it needs, is to ask for permission before entering. And if you enter, be prepared for the consequences.”

“But if they tell me that this is sexual harassment, these are strong words and the press should ask me first before making public anything. I think it is not just. They are playing with a life of a person. I expect them to rectify these news. Hugs to all.”

Azkals team captain believes that Guirado and Moy did not intend to harass the match commissioner.

“Ayon naman kay team captain Ali Borromeo, wala siya sa locker noong nangyari ang insidente pero naniniwala siyang walang intensiyon ang players na bastusin siya,” the report said.

“Being part of the team and being captain of the Azkals we don’t condone sexual harassment at all. Like I said, with Lexi’s word and Angel who can’t speak a word of English, there’s no harm intended towards Cris Ramos,” Borromeo explained.

According Borromeo, in his eight years as Azkals team captain, they never encountered any problem with a match commissioner. He went on to detail how the team inspection process goes.

“Any match commissioner calls each player. The player goes to her with an ID and usually holding the jersey as well and presents what it presents. Some players are not wearing any shorts,” he revealed.

“Pero giit ni Ramos [ay] hindi lang maingay kundi nabastos talaga siya habang nagsasagawa ng mandatory team inspection.”

“They’re not 13 year old kids. They’re not, you know, five-year-old kids. They’re in their early twenties, mid-twenties. Maybe some of the players are a bit older so they should be mature enough to know what is proper behavior,” Ramos said.

Ramos alleged that Guirado and Moy sexually harassed her during her inspection of the Azkals players accreditation cards last Feb. 29.

In a report posted by abs-cbnnews.com on March 2, Ramos detailed the scenario in which she claims she was sexually harassed.

"As I called the players individually so that we could check their accreditation cards and kits, Philippine player LEXTON MOY (no. 25) stood by my right side and said in a loud voice ‘Must be a B cup,’ to which the players laughed loudly. As I was the only female in the room, he was apparently referring to my bra size,” said Ramos in the report.

“Additionally when I checked Philippine player ANGEL GUIRADO (no. 12) he stood in front of me purposely just wearing his briefs and made no attempts to wear shorts or cover his underwear. Again, the players loudly laughed while I was checking this player,” the report added.

Ramos is preparing all the documents necessary to file the complaint at the Philippine Football Federation Disciplinary Committee.

“Sa kabila nito [ay] umaasa si Ramos na magiging maganda ang laro ng Azkals sa Challenge Cup sa Nepal. Pero kahit kailan [ay] hindi raw dapat kunsintihin ang maling pagtrato lalo na sa mga kababaihan.”

Meanwhile, Lexton Moy also reacted via Twitter.

“It deeply saddens me to hear about the very serious allegation. This sensitive situation will be addressed professionally and respectfully,” Moy tweeted on March 3.
source: mb.com.ph