MANILA — Actor Sandro Muhlach took to Instagram to share his journey as a survivor of sexual assault and abuse, addressing the challenges he faced and the impact of recent legal developments.
Muhlach’s statement comes as the Department of Justice formally charged GMA Network independent contractors Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz in connection with his case.
In his post, Muhlach revealed the emotional difficulty of sharing his story and the toll of public scrutiny and online harassment.
“It was very difficult for me to tell my story — to come forward and tell the public that I was sexually assaulted and abused,” Muhlach expressed.
He also described the fear that often prevents victims from speaking out, a fear that materialized for him through online attacks and intense criticism.
“’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,” he said.
Adding to his pain, Muhlach was accused of lying due to insufficient evidence, intensifying his emotional burden.
“Napakaraming masasakit na salita ang sinabi tungkol sa akin, at pinipilit na ako pa raw ang nagsisinungaling dahil wala akong ebidensya,” he shared.
Despite these challenges, Muhlach noted he held on to hope and ultimately felt vindicated by the justice system.
“Finally, our justice system has acknowledged the truth,” he affirmed.
Muhlach ended his message by encouraging other survivors to stay strong and resist those who try to silence them.
“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,” he concluded, urging others to find strength in their truth.