Sandro Muhlach on dismissal of lasciviousness raps vs. alleged abusers: 'Ilalaban ko 'to hanggang huli'
Sandro Muhlach clarified that a Pasay court's dismissal of the acts of lasciviousness case against GMA Network's independent contractors Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz was just one of the charges he's pressing.
"The court removed the acts of lasciviousness charge because it's already part of the sexual assault case, which is still ongoing. Meaning, mas matindi ang magiging kaso," Muhlach said in an Instagram story on Feb. 13.
He said they're still going to file a motion for reconsideration for the acts of lasciviousness case.
"Hindi sila makakalusot dito at ilalaban ko to hanggang huli!" he said. "I will make sure na hindi na kayo makakaulit sa iba."
Pasay Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) Branch 46 granted Nones and Cruz's motion to quash the two counts of acts of lasciviousness against them.
The Pasay MTC said the case was an "overkill," as it's already an element of rape through sexual assault.
The Department of Justice had filed rape through sexual assault cases against Nones and Cruz before the Pasay Regional Trial Court.
Muhlach's clarification comes after the MTC's dismissal was reported by local media, leading to several social media users expressing their disappointment.
The Sparkle GMA artist's dispute with Nones and Cruz began in August when GMA disclosed that they received a formal complaint from him against the TV consultants, but the network did not specify the issue.
The next day, Muhlach and his father, former child actor Niño Muhlach, went to the National Bureau of Investigation to formally file a sexual molestation complaint against Nones and Cruz. The actor returned to the NBI office four days later to submit additional documents before filing a rape case against the two suspects at the DOJ.
Before the formal filing of complaints happened, the names of Muhlach, Nones, and Cruz made the rounds on social media after a local entertainment news website published a blind item claiming that two program executives sexually 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.
The issue became the subject of multiple Senate hearings, with Nones and Cruz in attendance. Nones was cited in contempt at one point and was placed under Senate custody for allegedly lying under oath.
Nones and Cruz repeatedly denied the allegations in the hearings despite senators saying there was "strong evidence" against them.
They're also seeking to dismiss Muhlach's complaint, arguing that his evidence "is contrary to his allegations."
