Niño Muhlach and his son Sandro Muhlach. Image: screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network
Niño Muhlach asserted that his previous remark — in which he joked about telling his son Sandro Muhlach to “forgive” his alleged abusers should they offer a P100 million-settlement — is “not meant to be taken seriously.”
“Si Sandro, ayaw magpaareglo. Pero sabi ko, ‘Kung PHP100 million na, magpatawad ka na, anak. Matuto kang magpatawad!’” Niño was quoted as saying, in an exclusive interview with Philippine Entertainment Portal.
(Sandro does not want to agree to any settlement. But I told him, “If the settlement reaches P100 million, forgive them already, son. Learn how to forgive!”)
Niño nonetheless stressed during the conversation that Sandro is telling the truth and that the younger actor will not agree to a settlement.
The former child star then took to his Facebook page on Wednesday, Nov. 27, to make clarifications on his remarks from the interview which was supposedly “taken out of context by some viewers.”
“Para sa mga hindi marunong mag differentiate ng joke at ng totoong comments, para sa inyo ito (For those who cannot differentiate jokes from real comments, this is for you)!” he began. “Those who know me well are aware that I have a humorous disposition and I often make light-hearted remarks.”
“However, it is crucial to clarify that my comments during the interview were not meant to be taken seriously,” he continued. “My son is a victim of sexual abuse and I want to make it unequivocally clear that we have no intention of seeking a settlement from the perpetrators.”
Niño further noted that their family’s sole objective is to seek justice for Sandro, adding that they have placed their trust in the country’s legal system “to deliver the rightful outcome.”
Sandro filed a complaint of rape through sexual assault and acts of lasciviousness against GMA independent contractors Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz at the Department of Justice last Aug. 19.
During the hearings conducted by the Senate committee on public information and mass media, Sandro narrated how he was allegedly molested and taught to use illegal drugs by Nones and Cruz after the GMA Gala last July 20.
The DOJ then filed criminal cases against the independent contractors at the Pasay City Regional Trial Court last October.