Gerald Santos and German “Kuya Germs” Moreno. Image: screengrab from YouTube/Gerald Santos
Gerald Santos recounted how he became an “outcast” at the GMA entertainment department after he reported the sexual abuse he experienced, saying that the late German “Kuya Germs” Moreno was one of the very few who “fought” for him at the time.
Santos spoke about this in the second part of his two-part YouTube vlog on Thursday, Aug. 8, disclosing that the alleged abuse happened in December 2005 when he was 15 years old.
“Feb. 8, 2010 nung aming idulog ito sa management ng GMA. Nagfile po kami ng case dito sa taong ito na gumawa ng hindi maganda sa akin,” he said.
“It took four years for me to speak up about this issue kasi lumala na po nang lumalala ‘yung panggigipit sa akin sa network. Nung ako po ay continuous na nagre-refuse sa taong ito ng kanyang mga advances sa akin, ay palala po nang palala ang aking naging sitwasyon sa network,” he continued.
Santos lamented how he was “ridiculed, gaslighted” and was labeled as “homophobic” after he revealed being a victim of sexual abuse. The singer further recalled being told by some to just “move on” because such is supposedly part of being a showbiz personality.
Santos nonetheless got to talk to one of the network owners whom he didn’t name and who even gave him “words of encouragement.”
“While they (network) were investigating, ang atmosphere talaga sa akin ng mga staff ng GMA, particularly ng entertainment department, galit po sila sa akin talaga,” he said. “Nakakapag-guest po ako sa news department or sa mga game shows, hindi po sa entertainment department dahil don po ‘yung mga nabangga ako.”
Kuya Germs’ support
“After kong matanggal sa ‘SOP,’ ‘Party Pilipinas,’ ako po ay napapunta sa ‘Walang Tulugan’ — kay Kuya Germs. Masasabi ko po na isa si Kuya Germs sa nakipaglaban po para sa akin,” Santos said. “Siya lang po ‘yung nag-go against the flow kahit na ang dami pong galit na galit sa akin no’n sa network.”
Santos added that Kuya Germs and his fellow host John Nite even received phone calls asking them to remove the singer from the show, but that the TV hosts refused.
“Ako po ay na-outcast, basically. Kaya I really want to express my gratitude to Kuya Germs dahil isa po talaga siya sa nagpakita noon ng todong suporta at pagmamahal sa akin,” he stated.
After 14 long years, Santos said those he reported for abuse still have ill-feelings toward him, and are still aiming to get back at him. Unfortunately, the singer has yet to receive any “clear resolution” from GMA Network up to now.
Concluding his vlog, Santos lamented, “Ang nangyari po sa akin ay imbes na ako ay maprotektahan at alagaan dahil ako po ay homegrown talent ng GMA, dahil ako ay nagsalita, napag-initan pa po ako. Ikaw na ang naging biktima, ikaw na ang hindi ginawan ng maganda, ikaw pa ang lumabas na masama.”
Santos earlier sympathized with Sandro Muhlach who was allegedly sexually abused by GMA independent contractors Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz.