Niño Muhlach breaks down during Senate hearing on son Sandro's sexual abuse case
Veteran actor Niño Muhlach broke down as he appeared before a Senate hearing on behalf of his son Sandro, who filed a formal complaint against GMA Network's two independent contractors for alleged sexual abuse.
During the hearing on Aug. 7, Niño recalled Sandro trembling and barely holding his phone while telling him about the alleged abuse—even as his voice was shaking and he was holding back tears.
"Kaya talaga ako nasaktan nung kinuwento niya sa akin 'yung nangyari," he said.
Niño said Sandro didn't initially want to file a complaint for fear of affecting his work and of GMA's reaction. Sandro is part of the network's talent agency Sparkle.
Sandro was supposed to attend the Senate hearing, but a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official advised him to limit his public exposure and social media use for his mental health.
Sandro's lawyer also said he's still traumatized by the incident.
"Kung makita niyo lang po ang anak ko talaga," Niño said while crying, noting Sandro informed his sibling Alonzo first about the incident before him. "Sobrang nakakasama lang talaga ng loob."
On Aug. 1, GMA said it received a formal complaint from Sandro against Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz.
GMA didn't specify the issue involving Sandro, Nones, and Cruz.
Noting that it's "respecting Sandro's request for confidentiality," the network said its investigating body will withhold all details of the formal investigation until its conclusion.
On Aug. 2, Sandro and Niño went to the NBI to formally file a sexual molestation complaint against Nones and Cruz.
Four days later, Sandro returned to the NBI office to submit more documents.
Before the formal filing of complaints happened, the names of Sandro, Nones, and Cruz were making the rounds on social media after a local entertainment news website published a blind item claiming that two program executives harassed a newbie artist in a hotel room.
The alleged incident happened while an extravagant gathering took place on the hotel's premises, the report said.
GMA recently held its gala night last July 20 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Newport Pasay City.
'Sobrang galang ko sa kaniya'
In the hearing, Niño also expressed bitterness toward Nones, as the latter served as the head writer of the 2023 teleserye Walang Matigas na Mister sa Matinik na Misis, in which the former starred.
"Sobrang galang ko sa kaniya. Kapag may mga events kami, ako pa lumalapit sa kaniya," Niño said, adding he even addresses Nones as "Sir Jojo."
"Hindi ko matanggap ang ginawa niya sa anak ko… Sobrang sama ng loob ko talaga kay Jojo Nones," Niño said.
He noted that he didn't know Cruz personally and only heard about him when he heard Sandro's story.
Niño also rhetorically asked whether Nones and Cruz allegedly have other victims, especially those who aren't household names.
“Hindi ko naman sinasabi na may ginawan silang iba," he said. "Pero kung nakaya nilang gawin sa isang pamilya na may pundasyon na sa industriyang ito, paano pa sa iba?"
'Did my best to be a good father'
Niño also noted how he did his best to be a good father to Sandro.
"I may not have been a good husband... but I could proudly say that I did my best to be a good father," he said. "Sa abot ng aking makakaya,"
He noted how he taught their children the value of respect.
Niño also pointed out that when Sandro informed him of plans to enter the showbiz industry, there was no nepotism involved as he let Sandro figure out himself how to break into the business.
"Wala akong tinawagan na kahit sino na para makapasok siya," he said. "Nalaman ko na lang na nag-aaudition siya. Natanggap siya sa Sparkle."
Niño also commended the humility of Sandro who, despite owning a car, rides the shuttle and joins everybody.
"Walang special treatment. Ganoon kababa ang loob ni Sandro," Niño said, adding his son is a quiet kid who loves what he does.
Burden of proof
Nones and Cruz, meanwhile, are seeking to dismiss Sandro's formal complaint before GMA Network.
In a statement sent to PhilSTAR L!fe, Their legal counsel Atty. Maggie Abraham Garduque noted that in every proceeding, the person who makes allegations has the burden to prove.
"In the formal complaint, one of the allegations of Mr. Muhlach was he was lured by our clients to go up to the hotel room. However, his own evidence proves otherwise,” Garduque said. “Based on the text messages, it was Mr. Muhlach who messaged Mr. Nones with ‘Andyan pa ba kayo sir Baka po pwede dumaan saglit haha.’”
Garduque said her clients will ask to dismiss the case “not only for lack of evidence to substantiate the elements of sexual harassment/sexual assault, [but] worse, his evidence is contrary to his allegations.”
They also got a subpoena from the NBI's public corruption division, which set a hearing for the investigation on Aug. 9.
Nones and Cruz didn't appear before the Senate hearing, with Garduque explaining it would be tantamount to cross-examination during the trial of the case.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada recommended to his colleagues to subpoena Nones and Cruz in the next hearings.
