Sandro Muhlach. Image: Instagram/@sandromuhlach
Updated: 12:50 p.m., Aug 11, 2024
GMA independent contractors Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz’s camp filed a counter-affidavit at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in response to the sexual-abuse complaint filed against them by Sandro Muhlach.
Nones and Cruz were a no-show and only their legal counsel, Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque, was present at the filing on Friday, Aug. 9.
“At the onset naman sinabi namin that there is an absolute denial of the allegations being accused of our clients,” she told members of the media, as seen in a “TV Patrol” report. “Ang NBI naman, they’re still processing the evidence so hindi pa po talaga ito considered as kaso.”
One of the pieces of evidence being looked at are the CCTV footage submitted to the NBI by three hotels where Muhlach was seen before and after the alleged abuse.
Abraham-Garduque also addressed an earlier statement from actor Niño Muhlach, Sandro’s father, saying that he already met Nones and Cruz and that the two apologized to him over “what happened.”
“If nag-sorry po with regard to the liability, under the rules po pag sa criminal case, there’s a presumption of guilt. Pero pag sa civil case, that’s not a presumption of guilt,” she said.
Abraham-Garduque further stressed that these allegations tarnish the reputations of Nones and Cruz, who have been in the industry for over three decades.
On the other hand, Sandro has undergone psychological assessment and, according to Niño, the young actor has been suffering from trauma and depression due to the alleged abuse.