Maricel Soriano alleged to have verbally and physically abused helpers

Manila Bulletin
By JULIEN MERCED C. MATABUENA
July 4, 2011, 10:03am

MANILA, Philippines – Two of actress Maricel Soriano's house helpers have accused her of verbal and physical abuse.

In a taped interview on “The Buzz” aired July 3, the 22-year old May Cachuela and 18-year old Camille Acojedo–who started work for the actress in her condo unit at Rockwell, Makati City just last June 18–claimed that Soriano had often dealt with them using harsh words.

“Bawat pasok ko po doon, laging mura ang naaabot [ko]. Laging mura, kahit 'yung nagpapaabot lang ho siya, magmumura siya.

“Si Ma'am ho, ayaw niya ng konting mangatwiran kami. Gusto niya ho lagi ho siyang tama. Siya lagi ang pakikinggan,” Cachuela said.

Meanwhile, Acojedo related, “Naranasan ko lang po kasi kay ma'am talaga 'yung pagmumura niya po kasi po hindi naman po namin masikmura talaga 'yung mura.

“Talaga pong ipapamukha pa niya kung ga'no kalutong... parang pinapakain niya po kasi sa 'min 'yung mura niya eh,” she stressed.

The tale of two helpers

The two first gained attention when they appeared as guest on Mon Tulfo’s radio show on DZIQ on Thursday. In the same “The Buzz” interview, Tulfo related how Cachuela and Acojedo sought their help.

“May tumawag sa amin, 'yung ate nung May na taga-Zambales. Sinabi na binugbog daw 'yung kanyang kapatid ni Maricel Soriano. Sabi nung staff ko, patakasin mo, patakbuhin mo sa barangay.

“Kinaumagahan sinundo ng aking staff. Pina-medical, tapos isinumbong sa barangay,” he said.

As if the verbal abuse wasn’t enough, the two househelp claimed they also failed to take their meals at times because of Soriano’s alleged demanding nature.

“Kakaasikaso po kasi sa kanya kaya po hindi kami makakain sa oras, sa sobrang pag-aasikaso, sobrang pag-aano ng bahay niya. Minsan po hindi po namin alam 'di pa pala kami kumakain...” Acojedo said.

“Kasi doorbell siya nang doorbell. Hindi na po kami masyado kumakain kasi po doorbell siya nang doobell, tawag ho siya nang tawag,” Cachuela, in tears, continued.

The two females related to “The Buzz” what drove them to leave Soriano’s home last Wednesday. That day, Cachuela, Acojedo and two other maids were tending to Soriano’s things as the latter was scheduled for a recording.

“May hinahanap po siyang mga kulay yellow, so hindi ko ho alam na bitbit po nung isang katulong namin. Tapos may hinananap na naman po siya, bilog na pang-make up daw ho niya. Hindi namin mahanap so 'yun nagwala na ho siya, nagmumura, sabi ho niya 'Papatayin ko kayo,'” Cachuela said.

“[Pinaabot] ho niya 'yung cigarette case niya, 'I-abot mo 'yung cigarette case ko,' sabi niya sa 'kin. Eh, 'di, inabot ko sa kanya. Tapos ho nung inabot ko sa kanya, umiiyak po ako kasi hindi ko mapigilan.

“Lumapit si sir Chen [Soriano’s son who lives with her at the unit]. Tapos nung binigay ko ho 'yung cigarette case, sinipa niya [Soriano] ho ako...

“Nung sabi niya, 'Iiyak ka pa ha? Magpa-medical ka kung gusto mo.' Sabi niya, 'Hindi ako matatakot sa'yo, magdemanda ka? Sige magdemanda ka! Marami akong pera,' sabi niya. 'Hindi mo ako kaya,' sabi niya.

“'Babarilin kita!' sabi niya. Kukuha na ho siya ng baril eh. Nung malaman na ni sir Chen na kukuha na siya, pumunta ho siya sa 'kin. Niyakap niya ko, 'Please mom, don't do that,' sabi niya. 'Don't hurt her, ako na lang,' sabi niya. 'Please kung gusto niyong gawin yan, ako na lang. Unahin mo na lang ako,' sabi niya. 'Ako na lang saktan mo, sabi niya.'

“So yun, nagpapasalamat ako kay sir Chen. 'Sir Chen, please, 'wag mo kong iwan please. Dito ka lang,' sabi ko sa kanya.

“Hindi niya magawa dahil nandun si sir Chen. So umalis na ho siya [Soriano] dahil nagmamadali daw ho siya,” Cachuela continued at length.

At 11 p.m. that same day, Soriano was said to have returned home and asked to see Cachuela and Acojedo.

“Nung pinatawag niya kami, minura-mura niya ko. Sabi niya, 'Bakit, iiyak ka pa?' sabi niya. 'Bakit, magdedemanda ka? Sige. Hindi niyo ko kaya, May,' sabi niya sa 'kin. Isa ka lang hampaslupang katulong.'

"Nanginginig ho kaming dalawa, hindi namin alam gagawin namin.,” Cachuela said.

After this incident, the two escaped Soriano’s unit and sought refuge with the security.

“Nung dumating na 'yung dalawang katulong, tinanong namin sila kung gusto nilang bumaba rin. Kami ayaw na namin talaga. Nagpa-ano kami sa mga security guard, sa mga admin, 'Sir please tulungan niyo kami, tumakas lang kami so itago niyo ho kami please.' Tinago nila kami,” said Cachuela.

Allegedly, a seething Soriano called the building’s administration to ask for the two upon finding out that they've left the unit.

“Nagwala ho siya. Tumawag ho siya sa admin, sinasabi na pabalikin daw kami. Nung tinawagan ko 'yung driver nila, sabi ko, 'Kuya gusto ko ng umuwi, kuya please tawagin mo na si sir Chen, pababain mo na siya. Siya na lang mag-ano,” said Cachuela, adding that Chen was the one who signed their clearance.

Maricel’s PA tells a different story

However, according to Inday Castillo – Soriano’s personal assistant who apparently was the one who recruited the two as househelp – Cachuela and Acojedo allegedly stole from Soriano.

“Ang sabi ho ni ma'am Inday, nagkakalkal daw ho ako ng bag niya. So binabalikad ho kami ngayon. Sabi ko lang naman, kung magnanakaw ho kami, kung may ninakaw man kami, eh bakit wala silang nakita sa clearance?

“Kinakapkapan na ho kami ng mga security, pinicture-an 'yung mga bag namin, lahat ng mga dala namin... Wala ho silang na-ano eh,'" Cachuela reasoned.

According to the report, the two escapees have already filed a blotter against Soriano with the Brgy. Poblacion precinct in Makati. A hearing is already scheduled on July 6; if Soriano fails to show up twice, a case against her may already be filed by the police, according to the same “The Buzz” report.

Cachuela and Acojedo are determined to push through with the case.

“Marami na daw mga katulong na bumaba na sinasaktan ho niya, na sinabuyan daw ng mga mainit na tubig, pinukpok daw ng kung anu-ano. Hindi ho sila lumaban, 'yung mga katulong na'yon dahil, ewan ko, binayaran daw po sila.

“Kailangan naming lumaban para sa hustisya na namin. Hindi kasi ako makatulog sa gabi eh,” Cachuela tearfully said.

As of this writing, Soriano remains mum on the whole issue. Her business manager, Malou Choa-Fagar, told “The Buzz” that the actress is not planning to issue an official statement.

More, “The Buzz” reported that the remaining two househelp have left Soriano’s condo unit last Friday.