GMA-7 reporter denies child abuse rap

A GMA-7 reporter who is facing a child abuse complaint for allegedly humiliating students at a campus journalism workshop in Butuan City has denied all the allegations hurled against him.

Broadcaster Julius Anthony Segovia lamented that he will not gain anything from humiliating children.

“I categorically deny all accusations hurled against me. It is not in my character to humiliate or abuse children as I also have nephews or nieces that I love dearly,” Segovia said in a statement posted on his official Facebook post on Wednesday.

He said that he kept his silence on the issue, despite being “unfairly judged” by netizens on social media.

However, he decided to speak up as his family and friends have been hurt by the accusations against him.

“I apologize for the inconvenience that I might have caused anyone. I thank my family and all my friends who expressed their concern and love for me at this moment,” Segovia added.

Parents from Butuan City filed a child abuse charge against Segovia for allegedly humiliating students at a campus journalism workshop last week.

An Interaksyon report showed a blotter complaint was lodged against Segovia last June 28, saying that the journalist humiliated students and said “demeaning” words before 400 participants composed of students and teachers.

An allegedly fuming Segovia asked two students to be escorted out from the event venue after a student took a photo of him sleeping. Segovia reportedly saw the students laughing and asked the students to delete the photo.

“I was so afraid because he was angry, and I felt embarrassed as everyone was looking at me,” the nine-year-old student was quoted as saying.

The report said that about 80 participants, each paying from P2,800 to 3,000 fee, walked out from the event due to the incident. AJH