Sandro Muhlach sues alleged abusers for rape

HOT SEAT Jojo Nones (right) and Richard Cruz deny Sandro Muhlach’s allegations against them in a previous hearing. On Monday, Nones was cited for contempt and ordered detained for allegedly lying to senators during the hearing. —Richard A. Reyes

MANILA, Philippines — Actor Sandro Muhlach filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday charges of rape through sexual assault and several acts of lasciviousness against Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz, two independent contractors of GMA.

“The evidence is strong … we will get the justice that Sandro deserves,” Muhlach’s lawyer Czarina Raz said.

The actor was also accompanied by his father Niño Muhlach who expressed the same sentiment. “Finally, we’ve reached this day that we’re finally filing a case… of course there will be court hearings and maybe soon we’ll get justice, which Sandro deserves,” the elder Muhlach said.

READ: Drugs offered to Sandro Muhlach before alleged abuse; more details bared

“It’s a relief now that we’ve reached this day. It’s difficult because you see your son suffering every day, unable to eat, unable to sleep,” he added.

In a Senate inquiry last week, Nones and Cruz both denied that they sexually assaulted the younger Muhlach.

During the resumption of the hearing being conducted by the Senate committee on public information and mass media on the issue on Monday, Nones was taken into custody by the Senate sergeant at arms after he was cited for contempt for allegedly lying.

The motion was made by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada who said the GMA contractor would be released only when he tells the truth.

Sandro Muhlach at the hearing of the Senate committee on public information and mass media. (📸Andrea Mae Esteban, Senate Social Media Unit / Screengrab)

Cruz was also present during the hearing while Muhlach attended the hearing virtually and talked about his ordeal in an executive session.

Repeated denials

During the previous hearing, Niño Muhlach told the upper chamber that both contractors, in the presence of GMA executive Annette Gozon-Valdes, apologized to him and offered to make a donation to his chosen charitable institution, which he turned down.

Nones denied making the offer at the hearing, but Estrada presented Gozon’s signed affidavit stating that he did so.

“I was asking you a while ago, if you offered Mr. Niño Muhlach financial contribution to any charitable institution of his own choice and then you denied it. Now here comes the affidavit signed by Atty. Annette who … is very credible saying that you indeed offered financial contribution to any charitable institution of his choice,” the senator said.

“It’s very clear in this affidavit that you are lying,” he told Nones, who insisted he did not make the offer.

“It’s clear in this affidavit, it’s clear in what Sandro said, there are even drugs involved, there’s sexual harassment involved, it’s not even sexual harassment, it’s assault. You raped the kid, you made him take drugs before you raped him,” Estrada said.

Gerald Santos’ woes

Gerald Santos with his lawyer Ferdie Topacio at the hearing of the Senate committee on public information and mass media. (📸Andrea Mae Esteban, Senate Social Media Unit / Screengrab)

Singer-actor Gerald Santos, meanwhile, testified at the hearing that he was raped by a former musical director of a television network, whom he did not name.

“I was not harassed. I was not abused. I was raped,” an emotional Santos said.

He said he was willing to narrate his ordeal but he was afraid that the one he was accusing would get back at him.

Santos claimed the incident happened in 2005 when he was only 15 years old.

“For 19 years, I kept [quiet] because of fear, embarrassment. I was really ashamed because people tend to just dismiss my claims and told me to just move on,” he said.

Santos sought the help of the senators, saying he has long been wanting to file charges against his alleged abuser, if only he was not worried for his safety and possible repercussions to his career.

“I was only 15 years old at that time … I didn’t have the courage because I was merely a contestant then. I was just crying to my parents. My grandfather has passed away full of resentment because I haven’t achieved justice,” he added.

“I came to a point when I almost wanted to end my life. It was very hard for me,” he said.

Estrada asked the DOJ what legal remedies were available for Santos due to the length of time that had passed since the commission of the alleged crime.

The DOJ said that while the prescription period for heinous crimes such as rape was 20 years, the law may be more relaxed since he was a minor when the incident happened.