Showbiz Roundup: Gerald Santos, TV5 talent bare abuse; Gabs Gibbs engaged

Gerald Santos (left) and Gabs Gibbs with fiancee Marga Bermudez.

Gerald Santos dropped a bombshell at the Senate hearing last week when he revealed that he was actually raped by a former musical director of GMA-7 when he was still a minor who was a contestant in a talent show.

Santos’ revelation preceded that of a male talent or casual employee of TV5 who claimed to have been sexually harassed by a program manager of the network’s News and Current Affairs.

Meanwhile, Janno Gibbs and Bing Loyzaga’s daughter Gabs Gibbs announced her engagement to disc jockey Marga Bermudez, with the celebrity parents expressing their support for the couple.

All these more, as we look back at INQUIRER.net’s biggest entertainment headlines from August 16 to 22.

Gerald Santos bares rape 19 years ago

Gerald Santos. Screengrab from Senate YouTube and his Instagram

For the first time in 19 years, Gerald Santos publicly admitted that he was raped by a former musical director of a television network, which was later revealed to be his former home network, GMA.

At the continuation of the hearing of the Senate committee on public information and mass media which is investigating the cases of sexual abuse in the entertainment industry, Santos opened up about the abuse that he suffered at the hands of the still unnamed musical director.

“Ako po ay hindi po na-harass, hindi po na-abuse,” Santos said as he tried to keep his emotions in check as he answered the senators’ questions. “Ako ay na-rape po. Na-rape po ako, your honor.”

He narrated that the incident occurred in 2005 when he was only 15 years old.  “For 19 years, kineep ko lamang ito dahil sa takot ko nga po, sa kahihiyan. Hiyang-hiya po talaga ako lalo na noon dahil ‘yung grupo na nasa loob ay parang dini-dismiss lang nila ‘yung sinabi ko, na parang mag-move on ka na lang kasi kalakaran ‘yan dito,” he added.

The singer-actor said that at the time when he tried to complain against his abuser, but several powerful individuals merely dismissed his claims and even advised him to just “move on,” and was even accused of being homophobic.

“I was only 15 years old at that time your honors kaya wala pa po akong lakas ng loob noon. Contestant pa lang po ako noon. Kaya di ko nasabi agad… Sa parents ko na iyak nalang ng iyak. Kinamatayan na ng lolo ko sa sama ng loob nya kasi di po ako nabigyan ng katarungan po,” he said.

While he had previously admitted to having been sexually abused, he did not delve into its extent, only that he had tried to seek the support of the network. Such efforts, however, only earned him fewer projects until eventually he was “virtually banned,” as his manager declared recently.

GMA counters Santos’ claim

Image: Facebook/Gerald Santos

But GMA claimed there was a discrepancy in Santos’ testimony in the Senate, saying it was different from the administrative complaint that he filed in 2010 with the network.

In a statement, GMA said an urgent investigation against Santos’ abuser was made in 2010, and that the employment contract of said musical director had been terminated since then.

“Naninindigan ang GMA Network laban sa lahat ng uri ng pang-aabuso. Hindi kinukunsinti ng GMA ang anumang uri ng pang-aabuso sa mga artista, personalidad, empleyado, independent contractors, at iba pang stakeholders nito,” GMA said.

“Ngunit ang nilalaman ng formal complaint na inihain ni Gerald noong 2010 ay naiiba sa akusasyon niya ng rape na binanggit niya sa Senado. Ngayon lang din nakarating sa kaalaman ng pamunuan ng GMA ang bagay na ito,” it said.

GMA also denied that Santos was removed from the network, saying it was the singer who sought an early release from his management contract.

“Nais ding linawin ng GMA ang naging pahayag ni Gerald na natanggal siya sa network. Siya mismo ang humiling ng early release mula sa kanyang management contract noong 2010, na pinagbigyan ng GMA,” it said. “Sa parehong taon ay agad din siyang lumabas sa ibang TV network. Dagdag pa rito, sumubok ding bumalik si Gerald sa GMA matapos ang kanyang kontrata sa TV5 noong 2013.”

Santos shows ‘resibo’

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)

Santos quickly responded to GMA’s statement that his present claims differed from the one he submitted in 2010, with the singer making clarifications through “receipts.”

“Para lang sa kalinawan matapos ang official statement ng GMA, uulitin ko po na nagpapa-release ako sa GMA Artist Center. Bilang manager ko po that time ay tila wala na silang plano sa akin at walang mga projects na naka-line up para sa akin,” Santos said through his Facebook page on Monday, Aug. 19.

Santos supported his statement with a photo of his 2010 letter addressed to Atty. Felipe Gozon, the network’s CEO at the time, wherein the singer asked to be released from his contract since GMA “could not provide work for [him] in [times] of crises.”

He also shared a photo of the letter his manager addressed to Gozon in 2011, in which the singer’s camp asked for the official resolution of the case “to achieve a closure to this incident.”

“The prize for standing up for the truth has been very ugly for Gerald in his former home network whose battlecry has been ‘walang kinikilingan, walang pinoprotektahan, walang kasinungalingan, serbisyong totoo lamang,” Santos’ manager stated then. They claimed to not having received a response for this.

GMA has yet to comment on Santos’ latest statement, but a source from the network who asked not to be named but who is privy to the case claimed the musical director’s termination was already the “harshest penalty” that the network could impose.

Such ruling, the source told INQUIRER.net, should not be compared to a penalty that a court of law may enforce on a crime suspect in a legal case. “Unlike a court of law, GMA lacks the authority to enforce criminal penalties.”

The source added that Santos had requested to be “released from his contract with GMA and moved to TV5 that same year, even while the investigation was still ongoing.”

TV5 terminates program manager

TV5 logo | Image: Screengrab from their official Facebook

TV5 officially terminated the employment of a program manager who was accused of sexual harassment by a male talent (or casual employee) of its network.

On the Facebook of Senator Raffy Tulfo’s service-oriented program on August 22, it announced that TV5 chairman Manuel V Pangilinan personally informed him that the respondent, identified as the network’s News and Current Affairs program manager, Cliff Gingco, has been sacked from his post and dismissed from company service after an investigation showed that there’s strong evidence against him.

“Personal na nakipag-ugnayan si TV5 Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan kay Sen. Idol Raffy Tulfo para ibalita na tapos na ang ginawang imbestigasyon ng network hinggil sa reklamong pangmomolestiya ni Cliff Gingco, program manager ng TV5 News and Public Affairs, sa isang baguhang talent,” read the statement.

“At lumitaw sa imbestigasyon na may matibay na basehan ang reklamo laban kay Gingco, kaya nagdesisyon ang TV5 na tanggalin siya sa trabaho,” it continued.

The statement also stated that TV5 will provide medical assistance to help the victim and help prepare for the criminal charges that Gingco will be facing in the eyes of the law.

“Dagdag pa rito, kasong kriminal ang kinahaharap din ngayon ni Gingco sa piskalya, kung saan tumutulong at nakatutok ang RTIA para masiguro na maayos ang pag-usad ng kaso,” it added.

On the Aug. 9 episode “Raffy Tulfo in Action,” a new program researcher from TV5 came forward about alleged sexual harassment he experienced at the hands of a program manager from the same network. He claimed that he was sexually harassed in a hotel in Pasig on July 23 at 1:30 a.m.

Gabs’ engagement to Marga

Gabs Gibbs and Marga Bermudez. Image: Instagram/@margaonthemic, @sabinavsantiago, @gabsgibbs

Gabs Gibbs, the daughter of celebrity couple Janno Gibbs and Bing Loyzaga, has said yes to the marriage proposal of her partner, DJ and events host Marga Bermudez.

Gabs revealed their engagement by showing snaps of the proposal held at a ski resort in Australia, as seen on her Instagram post on Aug. 16.

“Prepare for the gayest wedding you will ever witness,” Gabs wrote.

The marriage proposal was witnessed by the couple’s loved ones including Janno, Bing, and Gabs’ older sister Alyssa, who treated fans to the behind-the-scene moments of the “snowy mountain engagement surprise.”

Gabs also disclosed in a separate Instagram Story that her engagement ring was designed by her mom Bing alongside Bermudez.

Gabs and Marga have been in a relationship since 2022.

Robin Padilla apologizes on marital rape remarks

Senator Robin Padilla. Image: Facebook/Robin Padilla

Senator Robin Padilla issued an apology following his remarks on consensual sex among married couples, stressing that he never said it was “okay” for husbands to force their wives to have sex.

On Facebook statement on Aug. 16, Padilla said sorry while reiterating that it’s his responsibility as chair of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media to ensure that all sides are informed about the topic.

“Ang marital rape po ay may mataas na porciento [sa] ibat ibang lugar sa Pilipinas, ibig sabihin meron po pagkukulang ang gobyerno sa pagpapalaganap ng batas at ang pagkukulang na yun ay obligasyon ko na punuan,” he said, while urging netizens not to be sensitive when the Senate holds hearings on such topics.

“Such inquiries may refer to the implementation or re-examination of any law or appropriation, or in connection with any proposed legislation or the formulation of, or connection with future legislation, or will aid in the review or formulation of a new legislative policy or enactment,” he added.

Padilla also claimed in a separate post on Aug. 17, that he never said that it was okay for husbands to force their wives into having sex with them.

“Una sa lahat, wala akong sinabi na ok na pilitin ang asawang babae sa pagtatalik…Pangalawa, ang sabi ko, paano kaming mga lalaki na naniniwala sa sexual rights kapag kami ay in heat? Not drunk. Not violent. Not under [the] influence of any drugs or liquor. Plain love and lust,” he said.

Citing the Christian Bible and Muslim teachings, Padilla said he was raised on both teachings and married couples have the right to enjoy a “healthy sexual relationship.”

“Malinaw po don na ang babae ang nagpapasakop sa lalaki,” he said while quoting a bible verse. “Paul’s teaching on sex within marriage is extraordinary. He says that husband and wife should give one another their conjugal rights… Each has a right to enjoy sex and each has an obligation to help the other enjoy sex as well. Both spouses should receive joy and pleasure in a healthy sexual relationship.”

Padilla was on the brunt of criticism after consensual sex was the central topic of a Senate hearing last Aug. 15, where he expressed his concern about women not being in the mood for sex, despite their husbands having the desire to do so.

Angelica mourns death of her mom Annabelle

Angelica Panganiban (left) with her mother Annabelle (right). Images: Pat Dy, Instagram/@panganibanannabelle

Angelica Panganiban is in mourning as she announced that her adoptive mother, Annabelle “Ebela” Panganiban, passed away on August 20. She was 61 years old.

Panganiban confirmed her mother’s death on her Instagram account on August 21, where she shared an obituary containing her mother’s photo. The cause of Annabelle’s death is not disclosed. There was no caption in her post as well.

Annabelle’s wake and memorial service will be held at the Aeternitas Chapels and Columbarium in Quezon City starting on August 22.

Panganiban previously expressed her love to Annabelle after her Siargao wedding to her husband Gregg Homan last April. In her Instagram post, she thanked her mother for being a parent who always dedicated her efforts to taking care of her while growing up.

The actress also shared that Annabelle was the reason why she learned how to be a good mother to her own daughter, Amila Sabine.

Born Angelica Charlson, the “Rubi” star revealed in a “The Buzz” tell-all interview in 2010 that her biological mother was a Filipina who died two years prior. Her biological father, Mark Charlson, was a former member of the US Navy.

Annabelle served as the actress’ adoptive mother until her death. She acquired the surname Panganiban from her adoptive family.