Dannyka Manangan

Miko Gallardo speaks out on blackmail and abuse allegations: ‘Let me go. I want my freedom’

Article (news)

Jemuel Tandoc

Push Team

<div><em>Content Warning: This article contains sensitive content related to sexual assault and mental health challenges. Reader discretion is advised.</em></div><p>Actor Miko Gallardo revealed he is allegedly being blackmailed and experiencing extortion in a recent video posted on his YouTube Channel.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="681" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K0XXkdsRR08" title="My Final Message" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>“Hey everyone, my name is Ochomiko on social media. You might know me as Miko Gallardo as an actor, but today I will be talking to you as Dwayne and what I have been going through my whole life. I&#x27;m not asking for sympathy or attention,” Miko said.</p><p>Miko went on to say that he just wants the harassment he has been experiencing to end, addressing the person responsible without naming them.</p><p>“I simply just want things to end. For the past ten years, a whole decade of my life, I have been blackmailed and extorted and I just want it to end. I&#x27;m sending this message out to the person, you know who you are, I will not be dropping any names,” he added.</p><p>The actor pleaded that he just wants to have his freedom back and said he’s willing to do anything to reclaim it.</p><p>“I just want this to go and end smoothly with peace. Let me go. I want my freedom. I will be talking in English for everybody to understand. I will be as straightforward as possible. I am begging—I am not asking—I am begging for things to end. I want it to end. I want my freedom. Ten years of this blackmail and threats and extortion, I am done. I will do whatever you want me to do for things to end. You want me to end my relationship? I will do it. You want me to pay you back? I will do it. You want whatever, whatever your reason is, whatever your wants are, I will, I will give it. I will do it. Because I&#x27;m done and I&#x27;m tired,” Miko said.</p><p>He added that he’s exhausted and simply wants peace now.</p><p>“All I&#x27;m asking in return is my freedom and my peace. So I can go about my days and my life without having to worry anymore. I am tired. I&#x27;m exhausted. I want to go home. I miss my grandma. Whatever your reasons are for doing this, I&#x27;m sorry. But please, I beg you. Please, let me go. Let me have my freedom,” he expressed.</p><p>Miko also revealed that he was a victim of sexual abuse at a young age.</p><p>“Let&#x27;s go back to the past where it all began. Maybe if I do go back in the past and talk about it, it will give a sense to why I am here in this situation right now. Maybe I can only blame myself. But when I was eight years old I was r***d by two people whom I trusted as older sisters,” he shared.</p><p>The BL actor also opened up about nearly being a victim of sexual assault by older men when he was younger.</p><p>“I will not be dropping any names. I will be as straightforward as possible just to give an idea. I was also almost r***d by older men when I was around the same age. But the only reason why they didn&#x27;t go through with it was because they almost got caught. But I did not speak up. I was a scared little boy who never talks. But this time, I&#x27;ll say it all. I don&#x27;t care,” Miko revealed.</p><p>He also admitted to having been involved in a sexual relationship as a minor with someone significantly older.</p><p>“At ten years old, all the way up around 16, 17 — I don&#x27;t even remember anymore — I had a sexual relationship with an older woman who was way older. Growing up, that really f***** up my mind. Filled my head with anger, lust, and bad choices. And that&#x27;s the reason maybe why I&#x27;m here,” he mentioned.</p><p>Miko also shared that he experienced sexual assault from individuals within the showbiz industry.</p><p>“When my career started, I got people sexually assaulting me in this industry, in the acting industry. Yeah, Filipino P did try to get me many, many times. But I never spoke up. They told me to shut up and take it in and just focus on my career. And that messed me up big time. Led me to bad decisions, bad choices, substance abuse, alcohol, you name it. They never got a hold of me because I always try to find a way to reason out or run away,” he revealed.</p><p>He disclosed that he was never able to fight back against the alleged big names.</p><p>“I was never able to fight back. Because if you do… you know what happens when you fight back in this industry. You know what happens. They bury you. I don&#x27;t want to be buried. Life is about survival. And right now, I am trying to survive. Those big names who tried to get me,” he said.</p><p>Before the video ended, Miko once again pleaded for his life back from the person whom he said now has control over him.</p><p>“Alright, I&#x27;m here now though. I&#x27;m still alive, I&#x27;m still kicking, begging for my life back from that person who has control over me right now. You know what I&#x27;ve been through. You know the s*** that I had to crawl my a** out of. So let&#x27;s make a deal. Let&#x27;s end things peacefully. Give me a chance to live again,” he said.</p><p>He also shared that if things were to get worse, he fears he might consider harming himself.</p><p>“But if you give me no choice and just tell me to end my life while you laugh about it or celebrate over it, you tell me I deserve it, then you leave me no choice. Who gives a s***, right? The world keeps spinning anyways. But let me, let me make a deal. I wanna live. I want freedom. If you still have any humanity and sympathy left in you, let me go,” he pleaded.</p><p>Miko added that he feels some of the blame lies with him for trusting the person who is now abusing and blackmailing him.</p><p>“Yeah, maybe I can only blame myself for being in this situation, for trusting you. So only I can end it,” he said.</p><p>The video came after his June Instagram stories went viral, with fans worried that those posts might be his final messages.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2Foxinfilms%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02xZbsocYEXXBmw74aHqvwmu7SkVsNYjfSL2cPxCV6sPhHPyB73Rae4X73ym4LUKGkl&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=500" width="500" height="250" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, his talent agency, Oxin Films, issued a statement shortly after the video was released. They assured his supporters that they are taking the matter seriously and are committed to providing support.</p><p>“Mr. Gallardo has reached out to us for assistance, and we are actively working to coordinate with him regarding these very serious concerns, which are significantly impacting his mental health and overall well-being. We want to assure everyone that we are taking this matter with the utmost seriousness and will be coordinating closely with the appropriate authorities to address these allegations. We appreciate your understanding and concern during this sensitive time,” they wrote.</p><p>Miko initially caught the public’s eye as a Bidaman finalist on <em>It’s Showtime</em> in 2019. He got his big break portraying Sky in the Boys Love (BL) digital series <em>My Day.</em> Since then, he has appeared in other projects such as <em>Ben X Jim</em> and <em>Momshies: Ang Soul Mo’y Akin</em> in 2021. In 2023, he reprised his role as Sky in another BL series, <em>Our Story.</em></p><div><em>If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, please know that help is available. You can reach out to the National Center for Mental Health through their crisis hotline:</em></div><div><em>NCMH CRISIS HOTLINENationwide: 1553 or 1800-1888-1553</em></div><div><em>Smart/TNT: 0919-057-1553Globe/TM: 0917-899-8727 or 0966-351-4518</em></div>

<p>Miko Gallardo reveals he is being blackmailed in a recent video posted on his YouTube Channel.</p>

Miko Gallardo reveals he is being blackmailed in a recent video posted on his YouTube Channel.