Former child star Niño Muhlach broke down in tears as he shared the harrowing ordeal of his son Sandro at the hands of his alleged abusers.
Muhlach stood before government officials as he spoke about the young actor’s traumatic experience for the first time during the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media’s investigation of allegations of sexual abuse on Wednesday, August 7.
This came after Muhlach and his son’s camp filed a formal sexual harassment complaint against GMA independent contractors, revealed to be Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz, on August 1.
It was also reported that Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada wanted Sandro to face the committee but his lawyer said the young artist is still traumatized by the incident.
“National Bureau of Investigation Chief for Anti-Graft Division Marie Catherine Nolasco-Illescas explained that Sandro underwent behavioral science evaluation, which led to a recommendation that he limit his public exposure,” the Kapamilya news outlet reported.
A video shared by ABS-CBN News captured the celebrity dad getting emotional as he narrated his son’s confession after the alleged assault.
Muhlach began by introducing his clan whose members have mostly been part of the local entertainment industry, and there were no questions when Sandro admitted to his father that he also wanted to take a similar path in show business.
Niño stressed that he did not offer any help to Sandro who willingly took the challenge to pursue his passion on his own. His son eventually became an artist at GMA Network’s talent agency, Sparkle, after being accepted in its auditions.
The actor-businessman couldn’t help his emotions as he went on to express his anger over Jojo Nones, whom he knew from previously working together in the Kapuso action-comedy series, “Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis“, was among those who allegedly assaulted his son.
Nino was among the cast of the said show while Nones was part of its creative team. Meanwhile, he shared that he didn’t know Richard Cruz until he was pointed out as one of the suspects.
Nino also revealed that Sandro first confessed the alleged incident to his brother, Alonzo Muhlach.
“Nakakasama lang talaga ng loob na kung nakaya nilang gawin sa isang pamilya na may pundasyon na sa industriyang ito, what more sa iba? What more sa baguhan?” Muhlach said during the hearing.
“Tapos ngayon binabaligtad pa nila ‘yung sitwasyon,” Nino added, possibly referring to Nones and Cruz seeking for the dismissal of the sexual harassment complaint filed against them.
“Nakakasama lang ng loob na kung sino pa yung may sala ‘yun pa yung nagagawang mambaliktad ng storya,” he added.
“Kahit sino naman po sigurong ama o magulang ganito din ang mararamamdaman,” Muhlach’s statements concluded as the video ended.
Meanwhile, in the “24 Oras” report aired on August 2, the alleged suspects’ camp have released a statement regarding the accusations.
According to lawyer Maggie Abraham-Garduque, Nones and Cruz are “deeply saddened by the serious allegations hurled against them”, and that such allegations “do not mirror the true accounts of the event.” They also asked for the public to refrain from posting “baseless defamatory allegations” that can subject them to “publicity trial.”
Their camp further mentioned that their camp has yet to receive the formal complaint.
“For the meantime, we urge the public to respect the investigation being conducted on this case and we advise people who have no personal knowledge of the incident to refrain from posting baseless defamatory allegations and therefore unfairly subjecting both parties to publicity trial,” it added.
Following the previous blind item that first alleged the assault, members of the Muhlach clan have aired their support for Sandro, vowing justice to be served to the suspects.
Sandro, on the other hand, recently broke his silence to share his current condition and determination to push through with the case.
