Singer-actor Gerald Santos has revealed that after he publicly identified former GMA Network musical director Danny Tan as the man who allegedly raped him when he was just 15 years old, he has been contacted by other victims claiming similar experiences.
During a Senate Committee hearing on Public Information and Mass Media on August 27, Santos shocked many by naming Tan as his alleged rapist.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel the following day, Santos shared that he was inundated with messages from others who said they were also abused by Tan.
“Pinangalanan ko na po ang taong umabuso sa akin. Siya po ay si Mr. Danny Tan. Nu’ng pinangalanan ko po siya kahapon, ako po ay gulat na gulat dahil may mga nag-message po sa akin na mga ilan niya rin pong nabiktima,” Santos said in the video.
The singer expressed deep distress upon learning that some of Tan’s other alleged victims were even younger than he was when the abuse occurred. “Ang kinagulantang ko po ay meron din po na mas bata pa sa akin nu’ng naganap po ang pang-aabuso. Grabe po,” he added.
Santos believes that a higher power might be at work in bringing Tan to justice. “Siguro langit na po ang gumagawa ng paraan para mapanagot o mapatigil ang ginagawang kasamaan nitong taong ito,” he remarked.
In his Senate testimony, Santos recounted the harrowing experience of being allegedly raped by Tan in 2005, which left him feeling ashamed and disgusted to the point of contemplating suicide. He explained that he had felt powerless and believed that no one would listen to his story, especially as he had no influence to confront his abuser at the time.
Santos hopes that by sharing his story, he can empower other victims to come forward and seek justice. He also expressed that revealing this information serves as a form of closure for him, particularly in relation to his past with the Kapuso network.
