Sandro Muhlach, son of former child star Niño Muhlach. —SANDRO MUHLACH/INSTAGRAM
Actor Sandro Muhlach, eldest son of former child star Niño Muhlach, has submitted a formal complaint against two GMA Network “independent contractors” for alleged sexual abuse.
An internal investigation was already under way, according to the network, which named the suspected offenders as Richard Cruz and Jojo Nones. The two are credited as creative head and creative consultant, respectively, of various television shows and drama series on GMA 7.
Coincidentally, Nones worked for the concluded weekly comedy series “Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis,” which also starred Niño.
Details withheld
“Recognizing the seriousness of the alleged incident, the network had already initiated its own investigation, even before receiving the formal complaint,” the network said in a statement issued Thursday.
READ: Sandro Muhlach files complaint vs GMA consultants accused of sexual abuse
Sandro, a talent of GMA 7’s artist management arm, Sparkle, has requested to keep matters confidential. As such, the investigating body “will withhold all details of the formal investigation until its conclusion,” it said.
“The network assures the public and all the stakeholders of its commitment to conducting this investigation with the highest standards of fairness and impartiality,” the network said.
Rumors started circulating on social media earlier this week after various show biz portals ran blind items, which claimed that a newbie actor was taken advantage of sexually by two individuals on the night of a network’s recent posh party.
Blind items
Amid all the gossip, Niño all but confirmed that Sandro was the subject of the blind items with a cryptic Facebook post on Wednesday that read: “Inumpisahan niyo, tatapusin ko (I will finish what you started)!”
Reached by the Inquirer on Thursday, Niño said in a text message that as much as he would like to give a formal statement, his legal team advised him not to do so “until a case has been filed.”
Sandro, 23, is Niño’s son with ex-wife Edith Millare. The seasoned actor has another son, Alonzo, 14, with current and longtime partner, Diane Tupaz, who alluded to the incident in a scathing Facebook post last Wednesday.
“We will not rest until justice is delivered. Our child will carry the nastiness done to him forever,” Tupaz said in Filipino.