Abuse knows no gender

August 5, 2024

MANILA – Amid the celebratory headlines about gymnast Carlos Yulo’s Olympic victory, a disturbing story has emerged from the entertainment industry. Sandro Muhlach, son of former child star Niño Muhlach, recently filed a formal complaint at the National Bureau of Investigation for the alleged sexual abuse he experienced from two GMA network executives at a gala event.

While the majority of sexual violence victims are women, it does not discriminate and affects people of all genders. Assault against men is actually more common than many realize. Apart from Muhlach, other prominent male figures were also emboldened to discuss their experiences. Stand-up comedian Victor Anastacio shared in his podcast how he was sexually assaulted while working on one of his projects. Internationally acclaimed visual artist Leeroy New used his online platform to open up about the abuse he experienced from two marketing and advertising executives. It is worth noting that Muhlach, Anastacio, and New all had some form of professional relationship with their assailants, highlighting the exploitation of power dynamics that often occurs during these cases.

The prevalence of sexual violence in the country is alarming. The National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children reported that 17.1 percent of Filipinos aged 13 to 17 experienced sexual violence while the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) found that one in 20 girls and women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. Given the underreporting of such crimes, these figures likely represent only a fraction of the actual cases. The unwillingness to speak up is rooted in common reasons: delayed recognition and acceptance of the abuse, shame in being victimized, and