Sandro Muhlach files rape complaint vs Jojo Nones, Richard Cruz

Sandro’s legal counsel says their camp is confident with their complaint because they have strong evidence

MANILA, Philippines – Actor Sandro Muhlach formally filed a complaint of rape through sexual assault against two independent contractors of GMA, Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz.

The Sparkle artist filed the complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday, August 19. Sandro was accompanied by his father, former child actor Niño Muhlach.

According to a GMA News report, Niño said that they’re looking forward to getting justice for his son.

“Parang nakaluwang-luwang na sa dibdib dahil umabot na tayo sa araw na ito. Ang bigat kasi nakikita mo ‘yung anak mo araw-araw na nag-susuffer. Hindi makakain, hindi makatulog,” he said. (It’s a relief that we finally reached this point. It was hard seeing your son suffer every day — not being able to eat and sleep.)

Sandro’s legal counsel also told the press present at DOJ that they’re confident with their complaint. “The evidence is strong. We have the evidence that we need. “We will get the justice that Sandro deserves,” she said.

Sandro details incident; Senate detains None

Sandro also appeared before the panel virtually at the 4th hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media on the complaints of abuse and harassment on Monday. Both Nones and Cruz were also present.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada asked the 23-year-old actor to recount the incident. According to Sandro, he received a text from Nones at 3:59 am asking if he had already gone home after the GMA Gala Night. None confirmed that he was the one who reached out to Sandro first.

The young actor also read their exchange of text messages about current projects, with Nones even saying that he’ll cast Sandro in a project soon as he’s currently directing one. The conversation then shifted to drinking alcohol with Nones saying that they can order more in the hotel room. Sandro said he asked Nones who he is with, but the actor stopped replying when he found out that Nones was alone.

“Hindi na po ako nag-reply kasi ang awkward kapag kaming dalawa lang sa kwarto,” he said. “Hindi naman ako nag-iisip ng masama sa kanya kasi tine-treat ko po siya as a boss.” (I didn’t reply anymore because it’s awkward that we’re only two in the room. But I’m not thinking anything bad about it as I still look at him as my boss.)

Sandro said that Nones texted him again at 4:37 am that he’s with “drama peeps (people)” and that they’re “wrapping up in a bit.” The actor said he asked None if he can tag along as he also wants to bond with the drama team. “It’s an opportunity for an artist like me to talk to them,” he said.

But when he arrived at the room, Sandro said that he saw a drunk Cruz lying down in bed. The actor continued that it was Nones who offered him wine. Estrada kept pressing for more details but Sandro and his legal counsel said that they ca n’t disclose specific details about the complaint he filed as copies of it have not been given to the opposite camp yet.

Sandro’s attorney also said that the actor is still getting triggered when recalling the events and still can’t detail it without feeling emotional. The hearing was suspended as they asked for an executive session not in front of Nones’ camp.

When the session resumed, Nones was grilled by Estrada about the accusations. The director said that while only the three of them were in the room – him, Cruz, and Sandro – he stressed that they didn’t do anything to the 23-year-old actor.

“Wala po kaming ginawa… Pinag-usapan lang ang gala, events na nangyari nung gala night, after-parties (We didn’t do anything… We just talked about the gala and the events that happened there and the after-parties.) We were just drinking and socializing,” he said, adding that there was “no luring involved.”

Nones also repeatedly denied the allegations that they made Sandro sniff drugs before they sexually assaulted the actor, and they provided financial assistance to a charitable institution of Niño’s choice.

It then led to a contempt citation, with Estrada making the motion and Senator Robin Padilla, the chairman of the panel, approving the motion.

The Senate can issue a contempt citation if it believes the witness “disobeys any order of the Committee or refuses to be sworn or to testify or to answer a proper question by the Committee or any of its members, or testifying, testifies falsely or evasively. ”

“Maliwanag na maliwanag na sinabi ni Sandro may drugs na involved. May sexual harassment not involved. Hindi nga lang sexual harassment eh, assault. “Pinagsamantalahan niyo ‘yung bata, pinag-take niyo ng drugs ‘tsaka niyo pinagsamantalahan,” Estrada said.

(It was very clear that Sandro claimed that drugs were involved. That there was sexual harassment involved. Not only sexual harassment but assault. You took advantage of the young man, you made him take drugs before taking advantage of him.)

Estrada said they will only release Nones from Senate custody once he speaks the truth about the allegations.

Reports began circulating about a young actor who was allegedly sexually assaulted by two individuals described as “GMA executives” in late July. The incident was said to have occurred following the GMA Gala on July 20.

On August 1, GMA Network released a statement confirming that they had “received a formal complaint from Sparkle artist Sandro Muhlach against two GMA independent contractors, Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz.”

The network stated that they would “withhold all details of the formal investigation” to honor Sandro’s request for confidentiality. GMA announced that they had launched an investigation into the matter.

On August 2, Sandro, accompanied by his father, officially filed a sexual harassment complaint against Nones and Cruz with the NBI. – Rappler.com