GMA independent contractors to seek dismissal of formal complaint filed by Sparkle star Sandro Muhlach
The two independent contractors of GMA Network, Inc. are looking to seek dismissal of the formal complaint filed by Sparkle actor Sandro Muhlach, noting that the latter’s own evidence “is contrary to his allegations.”
In a statement sent to PhilSTAR L!fe, their legal counsel Atty. Maggie Abraham Garduque said they have received the local star’s formal complaint against Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz for sexual harassment and that they are given five days to respond to it.
“I don’t want to go [in]to [the] details but I just want to say that in every proceeding, whether that is administrative or criminal, the person who alleged has the burden to prove,” Garduque said.
Nones and Cruz denied the accusations stated in the documents submitted by Sandro.
“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 pointed out. “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 told L!fe that 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.”
Garduque said they got a subpoena from the public corruption division of the National Bureau of Investigation, which set a hearing for the investigation on Aug. 9 in the afternoon.
The names of Sandro, Nones, and Cruz have been 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.
On Aug. 1, GMA issued a statement saying they received a formal complaint from Muhlach against Nones and Cruz. It did not specify the issue involving the three individuals.
GMA News reported that Sandro was with his father, actor Niño Muhlach, when he filed the complaint at the NBI. The Sparkle artist, in a text message sent to the media outlet, said, "Hindi po ako OK pero kakayanin ko po."
Prior to this, Niño wrote a cryptic Facebook post, saying, "INUMPISAHAN NYO, TATAPUSIN KO!"
His non-showbiz wife, Diane Abby Tupaz, followed suit hours later without mentioning anybody or citing a particular issue. "Pinalaki at iningatan naming mabuti ang aming mga anak na puno ng pagmamahal at pag aaruga tapos wawalang hiyain lang ng mga kung sinong tao na nilamon ng kademonyohan sa katawan para magawa yung ganung klaseng kababuyan!” she wrote in all caps, adding that they will make sure justice will be served.
Sandro also stirred speculations after he shared an Instagram story of a religious quote that stated, "God is never late. He sees the cries of the helpless and He will heal, provide, lead, and save. Trust in Him."