Gerald Santos. Screengrab from Senate YouTube and his Instagram
Rommel Ramilo, the manager of Gerald Santos, lamented how GMA did not at least provide psychological and psychiatric support for the singer after he reported in 2010 the alleged sexual abuse he suffered from the network’s musical director.
Ramilo spoke about this in response to a netizen who asked Santos what resolution he is seeking from GMA, via the comments section of the singer’s Facebook post on Monday, Aug. 19.
“What resolution are you waiting for from GMA? The perpetrator has been terminated by the network,” the Facebook user stated. “As for filing the case, you and your lawyer should file it personally in the court of law. GMA cannot file a case against the director since you are the victim and not them. Can you [please] enlighten us?”
Ramilo took it upon himself to respond to the netizen, stressing that GMA “should have still furnished Gerald with the official result of their investigation together with the official resolution, so it could have been used in the formal filing of charges.”
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Further stating his point, Ramilo continued, “The role of the network DOES NOT END after terminating the accused. If their concern was indeed the victim, they should have helped and supported the victim through psychological and psychiatric support, at least.”
The manager also pointed out that the network’s legal team should have extended help to Santos in exploring his legal options as he was a minor when the alleged abuse happened.
“‘Serbisyong totoo lamang’ should apply in [this] particular case,” Ramilo concluded, referring to the network’s battle cry.
Image: Facebook/Gerald Santos
Santos did not immediately take part in this exchange.
Santos earlier made a confession during the Senate hearing investigating sexual abuse in the entertainment industry, that he was raped when he was just 15 by a then-GMA musical director.
GMA responded to this by releasing an official statement, in which the network pointed out that Santos’ initial complaint differed from the rape claims he mentioned at the hearing.
Santos then made clarifications to answer the network’s statement, including photos of his camp’s letter addressed to then GMA CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon as “resibo.”
Meanwhile, a source from the network who is privy to the case claimed that after Santos filed his complaint in February 2010, the network terminated his alleged assailant the following July after a “thorough investigation.”
The source further claimed that the musical director’s termination was considered the “harshest penalty” that GMA could impose. “Unlike a court of law, GMA lacks the authority to enforce criminal penalties.”