Singer-actor Gerald Santos revealed that he was raped by a musical director of GMA Network when he was 15 years old.
Santos, who is now in his 30s, made the statement on Monday, August 19, during the third hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media for the investigation of Sandro Muhlach’s alleged sexual abuse.
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Santos said, “Ako po ay hindi na-harass, hindi po na-abuse. Ako po ay na-rape.” The actor also said that he was willing to disclose more details of the incident but he’s afraid the unnamed musical director might retaliate.
Gerald Santos also revealed the incident in 2005 when he was a contestant in the talent search competition Pinoy Pop Superstar.
“Wala po akong lakas ng loob noon,” he said.
“For 19 years, kineep ko lang po ito dahil sa takot, sa kahihiyan. Hiyang-hiya po talaga ako lalo na noon dahil ‘yung grupo na nasa loob ay parang dini-dismiss lang nila ‘yung sinabi ko, na parang mag-move on ka na lang kasi kalakaran ‘yan dito,” Santos said.
He also added that he only got to file an internal report in 2010 but found no resolution. Although the musical director eventually got terminated from GMA Network, he believes his colleagues retaliated against him.
“‘Yung musical director na ito po ay connected po sa mga ibang executives sa loob kaya ako po ay napag-initan… After ko po magreklamo, kahit naalis na po siya, natanggal din po ako sa GMA,” he said.
Also Read: Sandro Muhlach Files Complaint Against GMA Independent Contractors
Senator Jinggoy Estrada then asked him if he still wanted to press charges, the singer-actor said that he would’ve done that a long time ago, but he was afraid for his safety and career.
Estrada then asked a Department of Justice (DOJ) resource person if Santos could still pursue legal action, given that it happened almost 20 years ago. The representative replied that rape crimes ideally have a 20-year prescription period, the law might be favorable to Santos because he was a minor when the incident happened.
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