A Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors on Thursday, Sept. 12, concluded the hearings on the rape complaint filed by actor Sandro Muhlach, the son of former child star Nino Muhlach.
Charged by Sandro in the Aug. 19 complaint were Jojo Mones and Richard Cruz, independent contractors of GMA Network. The two contractors were charged with rape that reportedly happened after the July 20 GMA Gala.
Lawyer Marieglen Abraham-Garduque, the legal counsel of Nones and Cruz, said her clients submitted before the panel during Thursday’s hearing their joint counter-affidavit refuting the allegations of Sandro.
“Nai-submit na po namin ang counter-affidavit namin and hindi na po magsusubmit ng reply ang kampo ni Sandro Muhlach kaya submitted na po resolution ang kaso (We submitted a joint counter-affidavit but the camp of Sandro Muhlach told the panel he will no longer submit a reply to it and, because of this, the case was submitted for resolution),” Garduque said.
The lawyer said her clients and Sandro were present during Thursday's last hearing.
Garduque said said her clients, in their counter-affidavits that sought the dismissal of the complaint said: "Wala pong alegasyon na meron pong pinasok sa bibig or sa anal orifice ng ating complainant (there are no allegations that there was anything inserted into the mouth or anus of the complainant).”
“Makikita rin namin po sa documentary evidence mismo ni Sandro na ‘yung medico legal n’ya na wala rin pong entry injuries sa kanyang anal orifice (The medico legal findings presented by Sandro as documentary evidence shows that there are no entry injuries at his anal orifice),” she cited.
Thus, the lawyer said that Sandro failed to prove his allegations that he got drugged or intoxicated during the alleged rape.
“Pero ‘yung dokumento po na sinubmit n’ya sa DOJ ay negative naman po ang drug test n’ya (But the document he submitted to the DOJ shows that he tested negative for drugs),” she added.