Maid cries abuse in household of Lucio Tan’s brother

A maid in the household of business tycoon Lucio Tan’s brother will file serious illegal detention and other charges against her employers who allegedly subjected her to various forms of abuse over the past five years.

Anna Marie Trinidad, lawyer for 18-year-old Mary Jane Sollano, said her client will file a complaint in the Department of Justice against members of the family of businessman Mariano Tanenglian after she recovers from the trauma she suffered.

“We will file the appropriate complaints,” Trinidad said.

Trinidad said Sollano was still recuperating form alleged physical, emotional and psychological abuse in the hands of Tanenglian’s wife and two children. Sollano hails from Pagadian City.

Tanenglian is a brother of Tan with whom he had a falling-out early this year due reportedly to personal and business reasons.

Members of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Quezon City police took Sollano from the Tanenglian home on Biak-na-Bato Street on Monday.

Trinidad said Sollano was neither allowed to leave the Tanenglian residence nor communicate with relatives during her five-year employment.

“She didn’t even know what date it was,” Trinidad said.

She said Sollano also often was given nothing to eat.

Sollano’s parents only learned of their daughter’s plight from another helper, Aljane Bacanto, who managed to flee the Tanenglian household recently.

The Sollanos reportedly feared their daughter had died since she did not communicate with them at all during the past several years.

The family sought the help of the authorities which led to the CHR, DSWD and QC Police taking Sollano from the Tanenglian home.

Source
Philippine Daily Inquirer
August 12, 2009
Page A9