Niño Muhlach and his son Sandro Muhlach. Image: screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network
Niño Muhlach expressed his support for his son Sandro Muhlach, telling the young actor to be strong amid the ongoing investigation on his sexual abuse complaint.
“Be strong, anak. Better days are coming soon!” Niño addressed his son on his Facebook page on Wednesday, Aug. 14, while sharing the Philippine Daily Inquirer article about the senators seeing a “strong evidence” against the accused individuals, GMA independent contractors Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz. He also added the hashtag “justice for Sandro Muhlach.”
Sandro earlier filed a complaint before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), while Nones and Cruz’s camp denied the allegations and filed a counter-affidavit.
Sandro has also undergone psychological assessment and, according to Niño, the young actor has been suffering from trauma and depression due to the alleged abuse.
The Senate committee on public information also held a hearing on the case as part of an inquiry, which was held in aid of legislation on the policies of television networks and artist management agencies regarding complaints of abuse and harassment.
During the hearing, Niño said Nones and Cruz already apologized to him for what they did to his son, and claimed that they thought what transpired with Sandro was “consensual.”
Nones and Cruz insisted on their innocence and lamented how they might have been prejudged because they are gay. Nones was also reportedly hospitalized after the hearing due to anxiety attacks.