Former child actress Xyriel Manabat now stood her ground and fought against the sexual harassment she experienced on social media recently.
Xyriel Manabat now 16 years old, spoke up on social media comments sexualizing her body.
Xyriel became famous for her roles in ABS-CBN’s television series Agua Bendita, Momay, and 100 Days to Heaven.
She took a break from showbusiness and focused on her studies. She graduated high school this year.
The former child start became the center of attention on social media after one of her photos on Instagram was flooded with inappropriate comments.
Xyriel reacted to the “below-the-belt” comments about her body in an interview with ABS-CBN TV writer Darla Sauler.
“Hindi po ako na-fla-flatter sa ibang comments kasi yung iba po below-the-belt and sana alam nila and aware po yung mga tao na sexual harassment is never OK po. Hindi po siya fine,” she said.
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Xyriel Manabat now
She also shared sexual harassment should not be tolerated despite anyone’s age, gender, or clothing.
“Sana, minor man, girls or boys, ano man age, ano man ang gender, ano man ang suot, sana po walang ganun kasi never po siya nakakatulong lalo na sa ganito, sa pandemic, madami pong pinagdadaanan na mental health na problems, ‘wag na pong sumabay. Respect na lang po,” she explained.
“Wala naman po silang problema sa mga ipo-post ko as long as yung mga caption, or yung mga sinusuot ko po ay walang ma-ooffend at walang nilalabag, walang natatapakang tao, wala po. At saka lagi ko sila kasama every time nagpipicture ako, sila pa nga nag-aayos ng buhok ko,” she said.
Xyriel Manabat now revealed that she received offers to work in showbiz again, but she said she is choosing her studies first.
Commission of sexual harassment is a criminal offense. A person found guilty of sexual harassment shall be penalized by imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months, or a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000) nor more than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000), or both.