Trigger warning: Mention of rape
“HUWAG nating hayaan na patahimikin nila tayo. Tayo ang biktima!” ang matapang at may paninindigang pahayag ni Sandro Muhlach.
Ito’y matapos ang pormal na pagsasampa ng kasong rape through sexual assault at two counts of acts of lasciviousness sa Pasay Regional Trial Court (RTC) ng Department of Justice (DOJ).
Ayon sa DOJ, nakitaan nito ng sapat na ebidensiya ang akusasyon ni Sandro na umano’y inabuso at hinalay siya ng dalawang GMA independent contractors na sina Jojo Nones at Richard Cruz.
“Based on the investigation conducted by our prosecutor, it appears that there is a definite positive identification by the victim of the two individuals who abused him, and he narrated thoroughly the details of what happened to him,” ang pahayag ni Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon.
“Of course, the prosecutor considered the defense raised by the respondents. But in this case, their only defense was to deny what happened.
Baka Bet Mo: 2 suspek sa panghahalay kay Sandro Muhlach kinasuhan na ng rape ng DOJ
“We know that, in law, positive identification is the strongest form of evidence and denial by itself is the weakest,” aniya pa.
Kasunod nito, nag-post naman si Sandro sa kanyang Instagram Story, ng kanyang reaksyon sa pagsasampa ng mga kaukulang kaso laban sa mga inakusahan niya ng rape.
Pahayag ni Sandro, “It was very difficult for me to tell my story—to come forward and tell the public that I was sexually assaulted and abused. Yung mga kinakatakutan mangyari ng mga biktima, nangyari sa akin.
“In addition to the trauma that I suffered from being sexually assaulted and abused, I also had to endure online bullying and harsh and cruel criticisms
“Napakadaming masasakit na salita ang sinabi tungkol sa akin, at pinipilit na ako pa raw ang nagsisinungaling dahil wala akong ebidensya,” pahayag ng anak ni Niño Muhlach.
Patuloy pa niya, “But I did not lose hope. And finally, our justice system has acknowledged the truth.”
“For all the rape and sexual abuse victims out there, ‘wag nating hayaang manalo ang mga nagsamantala at bumaboy sa atin.
“‘Wag nating hayaan na patahimikin nila tayo. Tayo ang biktima.
“Tayo ang inabuso. Tayo rin ang papanigan ng katotohanan,” aniya pa.
Matatandaang sinagot ng aktor ang tanong noon ng isang netizen na, “Sandro, ano nga bang nangyari sa kaso mo? Binayaran ka ba para manahimik?”
Paliwanag ni Sandro, “Still waiting for the resolution of DOJ (Department of Justice) and GMA Legal. Hindi po ako binayaran and never po ako magpapabayad for settlement.
“Kahit po kami ng legal team ko naghihintay sa case. Wag niyo po pangunahan lahat. I will not be silenced. Just wait,” aniya pa.