Atty. Maggie Garduque, the lawyer of Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz, spoke before the media on Friday, Aug. 9. Screengrab from Karen De Guzman Twitter

Lawyer Maggie Garduque, representing Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz, two independent contractors of GMA who are facing serious allegations, has come forward to strongly deny the accusations against her clients. These claims were filed by upcoming actor Sandro Muhlach, who has accused Nones and Cruz of sexual abuse.

In a recent statement, Garduque emphasized the firm stance of her clients. "From the onset, we have maintained an absolute denial of all the allegations being made against our clients. There is a clear and unequivocal denial," she asserted.

When asked about the possibility of her clients issuing an apology, Garduque explained that it depends on the context. "It really depends on what the apology is for. If it's related to liability under the rules of criminal cases, there's a presumption of guilt. But in civil cases, that's not necessarily the case. In this particular instance, I don’t have personal knowledge of when or why an apology might have been made."

As for the upcoming hearing, Garduque stated, "I'll confirm with them because I still need to speak with them, as a subpoena has been issued."

She also noted the significant impact these accusations have had on her clients. "They're experiencing a lot of anxiety. It's very disheartening for them to be accused of something like this, especially when no formal case has been filed against them. Their reputation and mental health are seriously affected by these allegations."