Sandro Muhlach’s alleged abusers charged with rape, sexual assault in court

Sandro Muhlach’s alleged abusers, Richard Dodi Cruz and Jojo Nones, who are former GMA consultants, face the Senate committee on public information and mass media which is hearing the alleged abuses in the entertainment industry.

Updated, 5:30 PM. 7:17 PM

The Department of Justice has filed criminal cases against Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz, former TV consultants accused of rape and sexual assault by actor Sandro Muhlach.

“Based on the investigation conducted by our prosecutor, it appears that there is a definite positive identification by the victim of the two individuals who abused him, and he narrated thoroughly the details of what happened to him,” Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon told reporters.

Fadullon said the prosecution on case also considered the defense raised by the respondents, which was a mere denial of the allegations.

“Of course, the prosecutor considered the defense raised by the respondents. But in this case, their only defense was to deny what happened. We know that, in law, positive identification is the strongest form of evidence and denial by itself is the weakest,” he further said.

Meanwhile, Atty. Maggie Garduque, counsel for Nones and Cruz told reporters in a message that “we will issue a statement as soon as we receive the copy and we have read the basis of the department in giving due course to the complaint.”

During the hearings conducted by the Senate committee on public information and mass media, Muhlach identified Nones and Cruz as his alleged abusers, as he narrated how how he was molested on the night of the GMA Gala last July 20.

According to Muhlach, Cruz said Nones gave him wine and made him, then handed him a P500 bill. They then put a “white substance” on the hotel table and broke it using a room key card. The actor claimed the respondents taught him how to use the white substance.

At that point, the two accused then started pulled him on the bed and started abusing him, said Muhlach.

‘Survivor, not victim’

Muhlach celebrated the DOJ’s filing of charges by sharing the news on his Instagram Stories, with the caption “From pain to purpose, God’s guidance lights the way. Survivor, not victim.”

The actor then re-shared posts from his loved ones including his aunt, actress Arlene Muhlach, who were delighted as well over the recent update on his case.

The young actor also shared a video of him and his mom Edith Millare, who is based in the United States and recently returned to the Philippines in September to surprise him, with psychic Jay Costura.

The mother and son appear to have visited Costura, who told him during what appears to be a card reading session that he will be receiving “good news.”

At the latter part of the clip, Costura showed Sandro a card which surprised the actor, prompting him to shout in shock and stand from his seat.

Meanwhile, Sandro’s dad, actor Niño Muhlach, also expressed joy as he declared via his Facebook page, “God is good!”