The son of former superstar child actor Niño Muhlach last week filed charges against two producers of GMA, accusing them of drugging then sexually harassing him.
Sandro Muhlach, who was just beginning his career as a young entertainer, admitted that he was the actor alluded to in blind items as having fallen prey to GMA Network’s independent contractors identified as Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz.
His father Nino Muhlach said in a Facebook post that his family had been suffering much due to the “unspeakable and vile acts done to our son.”
In his early youth, Nino Muhlach was the country’s biggest child star, the Philippine version of Shirley Temple. He became independently wealthy after his father invested his earnings wisely.
Matriarch of the Muhlach family was the late actress Amalia Fuentes, herself one of the country’s biggest stars of the 50s, 60s, and 70s.
Nino Muhlach said: “We ask for your prayers to help us muster enough strength and courage to withstand the horror of reliving the dastardly acts of the perpetrators as we seek justice through our legal system.”
He also thanked the public for the support offered as they face the family crisis.
“Thank you for all your support and kind words and your gracious gift of space. We truly appreciate it.”
Initially, GMA Network acknowledged an incident involving their artist and two independent contractors last July 30, addressing unconfirmed reports online.
It was a broad statement that gave no details of what had transpired between the young actor and the contractors.
The country’s largest news and entertainment network also said, “We have yet to receive a formal complaint from those allegedly involved in the issue. Should one be filed, the network is committed to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation.”
GMA Network further stated that it “takes such matters with the utmost seriousness.”
Two days later, the “Kapuso network” admitted that a formal complaint had been filed by Sandro Muhlach against Nones and Cruz.
On August 1, GMA Network issued another statement, this time recognizing the seriousness of the alleged incident.
“GMA Network had already initiated its own investigation even before receiving the formal complaint,” the statement said, adding, “Respecting Sandro’s request for confidentiality, the investigating body will withhold all details of the formal investigation until its conclusion.”
Speaking in behalf of Nones and Cruz, lawyer Maggie Abraham-Garduque said the two were “deeply saddened” by the allegations against them, that first appeared on social media.
She said the accusations “do not mirror the true accounts of the event.”
Abraham-Garduque added that “we would like to reserve the right to respond in a proper forum when we receive a copy of the formal complaint.”
The lawyer also urged 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.”
If another GMA talent is to be believed, he suffered a similar fate as the young Muhlach in GMA almost two decades ago.
Gerald Santos – crowned Grand Champion of Pop Superstar 2006 – said his career at GMA abruptly ended when he refused the advances of an influential musical director from the station.
After he formally complained with GMA executives, Santos said he was just told to “move on.”
Santos said that musical director had convinced him to sleep in his place as they had a provincial show the next day and had to leave Manila early.
When Santos went to the director’s place, he said there was only one bed and he was coerced to sleep with the director. He refused, after which Santos said his career practically ground to a halt.
