The Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 46 of Pasay City has dismissed two counts of acts of lasciviousness filed by Sandro Muhlach against GMA-7 independent contractors Richard “Dode” Cruz and Jojo Nones.
According to a PEP report, the resolution signed by Presiding Judge Rechie N. Ramos-Malabanan was electronically served and received by Cruz and Nones’ camp on February 7, 2025.
The court granted the motion to quash filed by the defense on January 9, 2025, citing that a separate case of rape through sexual assault had already been filed against Cruz and Nones at the Department of Justice (DOJ). The court ruled that the acts of lasciviousness charges were redundant, referencing the Supreme Court ruling in People vs. Alvin Abulon y Salvania, which states that acts of lasciviousness are inherently included in rape cases.
The resolution stated that filing separate charges for acts of lasciviousness was an “overkill,” as the alleged offenses were already covered in the rape case filed before the Regional Trial Court (RTC).
Following the decision, Muhlach’s legal counsel, Atty. Czarina Raz, clarified that their team was not handling the acts of lasciviousness case, emphasizing that the rape through sexual assault case remains under DOJ jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the legal team of Cruz and Nones, led by Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque, welcomed the court’s decision, stating, “We are very happy that the court saw the legal infirmity that we had been raising at the onset of the case.”
They have also filed a motion to quash the rape through sexual assault case before the Pasay City RTC and are awaiting the court’s ruling.
According to PEP, the dismissal of the acts of lasciviousness case is final and cannot be appealed.
