Court orders arrest of businessman, family for maid abuse (The Philippine Star)

A Quezon City court has ordered the arrest of businessman Mariano Tanenglian, his wife and two children over the alleged maltreatment of one of their underage housemaids.

In an order dated May 4, Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 94 also issued a hold departure against Tanenglian, estranged brother of businessman Lucio Tan; his wife Aleta and children Fayette and Maximilian.

The charges of illegal detention, trafficking and child abuse were based on a complaint filed by Aljane Bacanto, a former housemaid of the Tanenglians. Illegal detention and trafficking are non-bailable offenses. The court set bail at P80,000 for each of the accused for the child abuse case.

The case of another former helper, Mary Jane Sollano, who was also allegedly maltreated by the family, was raffled to the sala of Quezon City RTC Branch 102 Judge Lourdes Giron.

“After having personally examined the information, the resolution of the investigating prosecutor and all the supporting documents attached thereto, the court finds that there is probable cause to hold accused for trial for the offenses charged. Let warrants for their arrest (be) issued,” the court said in the order, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR.

“With regard to the motion for the issuance of a hold departure order, the court finds the same with merit and… the motion is granted,” the court said.

The STAR tried contacting Tanenglian’s lawyer, Raymund Quiroz, but calls made and text messages sent to his cellular phone were unanswered.

In past interviews, Quiroz had denied the charges against the Tanenglians. He had linked the case to Mariano Tanenglian’s move to testify against his estranged brother, tycoon Lucio Tan, in a government case.

Bacanto claimed she was 16 when she was first hired – with a monthly salary of P2,000 – in May 2006. She said she was maltreated while she was working for the Tanenglians. She said she was finally allowed to go home in January 2009, but allegedly without receiving her salary.

The Bureau of Immigration and Department of Foreign Affairs were both given a copy of the hold departure order against the accused. The court also denied the motion to suspend proceedings filed by the defense.

The prosecution had asked for the issuance of the hold departure order, claiming that the accused are “very influential and prominent people” and have access to both domestic and international transportation.

But the defense had opposed this, citing a pending motion to hold in abeyance the issuance of arrest warrants due to a pending motion for reconsideration filed with the Department of Justice.

However, the court ruled: “It must be emphasized that the function of the judge to issue a warrant of arrest upon determination of probable cause is exclusive… There is absolutely no ground for the court to suspend proceedings and defer issuance of warrants of arrest.”


Source:
Reinir Padua
The Philippine Star
Posted May 15, 2010 at http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=575309&publicationSubCategoryId=65

Warrants out for tycoon's kin (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

A Quezon City court has issued warrants of arrest for businessman Mariano Tanenglian and members of his family in connection with a case filed by their former househelp, who they allegedly maltreated.

Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria, of Regional Trial Court Branch 94, also issued a hold departure against Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and children Fayette and Maximilian.

The charges of illegal detention, trafficking and child abuse were based on a complaint by Aljane Bacanto, a former housemaid of the family.

Illegal detention and trafficking are nonbailable offenses. A bail of P80,000 for each of the accused was set by the court for child abuse cases.

The prosecution asked for the issuance of a hold departure order, saying the accused are “very influential and prominent people” who have access to both domestic and international transportation.

Defense lawyers opposed the move, citing a pending motion to hold in abeyance the issuance of arrest warrants because of a pending motion for reconsideration in the Department of Justice.


Source:
Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted May 15, 2010 at http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20100515-270047/Warrants-out-for-tycoons-kin

Court orders arrest of tycoon’s brother (People's Journal)

A Quezon City court ordered the arrest of a brother of business tycoon Lucio Tan and his family over charges of illegal detention, trafficking and child abuse for allegedly maltreating their former housemaid.

Presiding Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria issued the warrants of arrest for Mariano Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and their children Fayette and Maximillian.

The family court also issued a hold departure order against the Tanenglians to prevent them from escaping prosecution.

The Department of Justice filed the cases against the respondents based on the complaint of Aljane Bacanto, who was a minor when she was hired as housemaid of the Tanenglians.

No bail was recommended for the accused on the illegal detention and trafficking charges while a bail of P80,000 was recommended for the child abuse case.

The judge granted the appeal of the prosecution for the issuance of the HDO, saying the accused are “very influential and prominent people” and have access to both domestic and international transportation.

The defense, however, said there is a pending motion to hold in abeyance the issuance of arrest warrants against the accused pending resolution of the motion for reconsideration they filed before the DoJ.


Soruce:
Cory Martinez
People's Journal
Posted May 15, 2010 at http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/metro/9528-court-orders-arrest-of-tycoons-brother-.html

Court issues hold order against taipan’s brother (Manila Standard Today)

A Quezon City court has issued arrest warrants against Mariano Tanenglian—brother of business tycoon Lucio Tan—and his family following the child-abuse and illegal-detention charges filed against them by a former maid.

The defense lawyers asked Branch 94 of the Regional Trial Court to defer issuing the warrants because they had a pending motion before the Justice Department, but the court denied them in its order dated May 4.

“It must be emphasized that the function of the judge to issue a warrant of arrest upon determination of probable case is exclusive,” Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria said.

“There is absolutely no ground for the court to suspend proceedings and defer [the] issuance of warrants of arrest.”

Mariano aside, the others for whom arrest warrants have been issued were his wife Aleta and children Fayette and Maximillian. The court also issued a hold order on them so they may not leave the country.

The four have been charged with nine counts of violating the Anti-Child Abuse Law, for which the court has set bail at P80,000 each, as well as child trafficking and illegal detention for which bail is not allowed.

The complainant, Aljane Bacanto, says she started working for the accused at their Quezon City residence in May 2006, but for three years she was not allowed to go out, was not paid, was not given enough food, and was hurt physically over the slightest error.

Another maid had filed a separate case of serious illegal detention and child abuse against the Tanenglians, and it was raffled off to Quezon City Branch 102 under Presiding Judge Lourdes Giron, another family court where the proceedings are confidential.


Source:
Roy Pelovello
Manila Standard Today
Posted May 15, 2010 at http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNews.htm?f=2010/may/15/news4.isx&d=2010/may/15

Utol ni Lucio Tan niresbakan ng kasambahay

Magsasagawa ang Commission on Human Rights (CHR) ng masusing imbestigasyon ukol sa umano’y pisikal at mental na pang-aabuso ng kapatid ni Chinese billionaire Lucio Tan na si Mariano Tanenglian sa kanyang kasambahay.
Habang isinasagawa ang imbestigasyon, pag-aaralan din ng CHR kung hihilingin sa Bureau of Immigration (BI) na maglabas ito ng hold departure order (HDO) laban sa suspek, ayon kay Atty. Carmelita Rosete, pinuno ng CHR Protection and Monitoring Division.

Ayon kay Rosete, sisisilip ng CHR ang anggulong paglabag sa karapatang pambata at child trafficking sa kaso ni Mary Jane Sollano, na nailigtas sa tahanan ni Tanenglian ng pinagsanib na pwersa ng CHR, Department of Social Welfare and Development at Quezon City Police District.
“Sollano was a minor when she was recruited five years ago, “ paliwanag ni Rosete.

Nang ma-rescue, puro paltos ang mga kamay ni Sollano dahil sa mainit na tubig na ibinuhos ni Tanenglian.

Nagsampa na si Sollano ng kasong kriminal na maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery at frustrated homicide sa Department of Justice (DOJ) laban kay Tanenglian, sa asawa nitong si Aletta at mga anak nilang sina Maximillian at Fayette.

Sa kanyang tatlong pahinang affidavit, idinetalye ni Sollano kung paano siya dumanas ng pisikal at mental na pang-aabuso mula sa pamilya Tanenglian sa kanilang tahanan sa Bgy. Siena sa Quezon City mula Hulyo 2004 hanggang Agosto 10, 2009.

Ayon kay Sollano, pinagbawalan siya at iba pang kasambahay na gumamit ng telepono, cellphone, tumawa, maupo sa mga upuan ng pamilya, tumingin sa labas ng bintana, manood ng TV, kumain anumang oras, matulog at magpahinga hanggang hindi natatapos ang trabaho, at magbasa ng anumang babasahin o magsulat.
Sa unang buwan niya sa trabaho, sinabi ni Sollano na nakarana na siya ng pagmamaltrato mula sa pamilya Tanenglian.

Sinubukan ni Sollano na magpaalam para makauwi na sa kanyang probinsya sa Zamboanga del Sur ngunit hindi siya pinayagan ng mga amo dahil sa kailangan niyang tapusin ang dalawang taong kontrata.

Nang matapos ang kanyang kontrata noong 2006, tumawag umano si Aleta sa isang abogado at sinabihan si Sollano na pumirma ng kontrata nang hindi binabasa ang nilalaman nito. Huli na nang malaman niyang pumirma siya sa panibagong dalawang taong kontrata para magsilbi sa pamilya Tanenglian.
Nakiusap si Sollano na payagan na siyang umalis ngunit sinabi ni Aleta na may babayaran pa siyang utang.

“I could not do anything but to just follow (them),” wika ni Sollano.

Source:
Bagong Tiktik
Setyembre 2, 2009
Page 2

Tanenglian lagot sa CHR

Magsasagawa ang Commission on Human Rights (CHR) ng masusing imbestigasyon ukol sa umano’y pisikal at mental na pang-aabuso na ipinataw ng Chinese billionaire na si Mariano Tanenglian sa kanyang kasambahay.

Habang isinasagawa ang imbestigasyon, pag-aaralan din ng CHR kung hihilingin sa Bureau of Immigration (BI) na maglabas ito ng hold-departure order laban sa suspect, ayon kay Atty. Carmelita Rosete, pinuno ng CHR Protection and Monitoring Division.

Ayon kay Rosete, sinsilip ng CHR ang anggulong paglabag sa karapatang pambata at child trafficking sa kaso ni Mary Jane Sollano, na nailigtas sa tahanan ni Tanenglian ng pinagsanib na puwersa ng CHR, Department of Social Welfare and Development at Quezon City Police District.

Nang ma-rescue, puro paltos ang mga kamay ni Sollano dahil sa mainit na tubig na ibinuhos umano ni Tanenglian.

Nagsampa na si Sollano ng kasong kriminal na maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery at frustrated homicide sa Department of Justice (DOJ) laban kay Tanenglian, sa asawa nitong si Aleta at mga anak na sina Maximillian at Fayette.

Sa kanyang tatlong pahinang affidavit, idinetalye ni Sollano kung paano siya dumanas ng pisikal at mental na pang-aabuso mula sa pamilyang Tanenglian sa kanilang tahanan sa Bgy. Siena sa Quexon City mula July 2004 hanggang Aug. 10.

Ayon kay Sollano, pinagbawalan siya at iba pang kasambahay na gumamit ng telepono, cellphone, tumawa, maupo sa upuan ng pamilya, tumingin sa labas ng bintana, manood ng TV, kumain ng anumang oras, matulog at magpahinga hanggang hindi natatapos ang trabaho, at magbasa ng anumang babasahin o magsulat.

Sa unang buwan niya sa trabaho, sinabi ni Sollano na nakaranas na siya agad ng pagmamaltrato mula sa pamilya Tanenglian.

Isinalaysay rin ni Sollano ang isang insidente kung saan dinala siya nina Aleta at Fayette sa isang kuwarto kung saan siya kinunan ng larawan na nakahubad.

Ayon pa kay Sollano, binuhusan ni Fayette ng mainit na tubig ang kanyang mga kamay matapos mahuling kinakain ang pagkain ng amo. Sa isa pang insidente, ikinadena umano ng mga amo ang kanyang mga kamay at leeg.

Source:
Police Files
Setyembre 1, 2009
Page 2

CHR pasok sa inabusong katulong

Iimbestigahan ng Commission on Human Rights ang umano’y pisikal at mental na pang-aabuso ng Chinese billionaire na si Mariano Tanenglian sa kanyang kasambahay.

Pag-aaralan din ng CHR kung hihilingin sa Bureau of Immigration (BI) na maglabas ito ng hold-departure order laban sa suspect, ayon kay Atty. Carmelita Rosete, pinuno ng CHR Protection and Monitoring Division. Ayon kay Rosete, sinisilip ng CHR ang anggulong paglabag sa karapatang pambata at child trafficking sa kaso ni Mary Jane Sollano, na nailigtas sa tahanan ni Tanenglian ng pinagsanib na puwersa ng CHR, Department of Social Welfare and Development at Quezon City Police District.

Ipinaliwanag ni Rosete na menor-de-edad pa lang si Sollano nang una itong kunin bilang katulong. Nang masagip, puro paltos ang mga kamay ni Sollano dahil sa mainit na tubig na ibinuhos ni Tanenglian. Nagsampa na si Sollano ng kasong kriminal na maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery at frustrated homicide sa Department of Justice (DOJ) laban kay Tanenglian, sa asawa at mga anak na sina Maximillian at Fayette.

Idinetalye ni Sollano kung paano umano siya dumanas ng pisikal at mental na pang-aabuso mula sa pamilya Tanenglian sa kanilang tahanan sa Bgy. Siena sa Quezon City mula July 2004 hanggang Aug. 10 ng taong ito.

Ayon kay Sollano, pinagbawalan siya at iba pang kasambahay na gumamit ng telepono, cellphone, tumawa, maupo sa mga upuan ng pamilya, tumingin sa labas ng bintana, manood ng TV, kuamin ng anumang oras, matulog at magpahinga.

Source:
Bansa Ngayon
Pilipino Star Ngayon
Setyembre 1, 2009
Page 2

CHR to probe maid’s complaint vs Lucio Tan’s brod

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will conduct a thorough investigation on the alleged physical and mental abuse committed by Chinese billionaire Mariano Tanenglian against his housemaid of five years.

During the course of the investigation, the CHR said, it will also study whether it can recommend from the Justice Department and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for the issuance of a hold-departure order (HDO) against the suspect, according to Atty. Carmelita Rosete, head of CHR Protection and Monitoring Division.

Rosete said the CHR is looking into the possible violation of child abuse law and commission of child trafficking on the case of Mary Jane Sollano, who was rescued from Tanenglian’s residence by a joint team of CHR, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Quezon City Police District recently.

“Sollano was a minor when she was recruited five years ago,” Rosete explained. At the time of her rescue, Sollano’s hands were badly scalded due to the hot water allegedly poured on her by Tanenglian.

Sollano filed criminal charges of maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Tanenglian, his wife Aleta, as well as children Maximillian and Fayette.

In a three-page affidavit, Sollano detailed how she was allegedly “physically and mentally abused” by the Tanenglian family inside their residence in Bgy. Siena in Quezon City from July up to Aug. 10, 2004.

The maid claimed she and her fellow helpers were “not allowed to use the telephone or cellphone, laugh, sit on their (family’s) chairs, look outside the window, watch TV, eat at any time, sleep or rest before our tasks were completed, and read any reading material or even write.”

During her first month at the Tanenglian household, Sollano alleged she was already maltreated and abused by the Tanenglians. “I was not yet familiar with my job so Ate Aleta got mad and slapped me. Since then, they would instantly hurt me for every small mistake I make,” she said. “In my five-year stay in their house, I was not allowed to go out. They even threatened me that they would do something bad if I ask for help from outside.”

Sollano said she tried to escape by asking permission to go home to her province in Zamboanga del Sur, but her employers would not allow her. She was told that she had to finish her two-year contract.

When her contract ended in 2006, Aleta supposedly called a lawyer and told the housemaid to sign a new contract without reading its contents. She only learned later on that she signed the new contract for another two years service in the house.

Sollano added that she pleaded to her employer to let her go, but Aleta said she still had debts to pay.

“I could not do anything but to just follow (them),” she lamented.

She even recalled an instance where she was brought by Aleta and Fayette to a room where they tool nude photos of her.

“When they were not yet satisfied, they would hit me with steel or slippers and threaten me that they would show my nude photos to other people or bring me to a nightclub owned by Ate Aleta’s friend,” she alleged.

Sollano said Fayette once poured hot water on her hands after she was caught eating their food. In another incident, her hands and neck were supposedly chained.

Attached with the complaint were affidavits from police, Commission on Human Rights, Department of Social Welfare and Development as well as other persons present during the rescue of the housemaid.

Source:
People's Tonight
September 1, 2009
Page 6

CHR pushes probe on battered maid’s plight

The Commission on Human Rights has widened its investigation into the plight of an 18-year-old from Zamboanga del Sur who was rescued from the residence of the estranged brother of business tycoon Lucio Tan, along Biak-na-bato, Sto. Domingo, Quezon City Monday afternoon.

Lawyer Carmelita Rosete, chief of the CHR protection and monitoring division for the National Capital Region told The STAR that they are looking into the possible violation of child abuse and child trafficking on the case of Mary Jane Sollano who was rescued from the residence of Mariano Tan by a composite team of CHR, DSWD and the Quezon City Police District.

“ She was still a minor when she was recruited five years ago,” she said.
Rosete said Sollano want to help her sick father but she went missing in the last five years until Aljane Bacanto, a fellow housemaid escaped and revealed the location of the missing girl. The parents and relatives of the girl has filed complaint with the CHR which in turn coordinated with the DSWD and police to secure the release of the girl from Tan’s household.

The CHR is coordinating with the lawyer of the victim for the possible filing of criminal cases against people responsible for the plight of Sollano. Sto. Domingo barangay captain Richard Yu held several house negotiations with the lawyers of Tan for the release of the housemaid.

Tony Abbago, CHR investigator said the victim is now undergoing physical, emotional and physiological test.Roland Sollano, native of Tigbao Surigao del Sur, father of the victim, has filed a complaint before the CHR over the alleged illegal detention of his daughter for the last five years inside Tan’s residence. He said his daughter was recruited from their town five years ago and since then they lost contact with her until a mother of another victim who was also rescued in the same household wrote her the plight of his daughter.

“I have not seen my daughter for the last five years, she is now 18 years old”, Sollano told The STAR in the Visayan dialect. Reports said that aside from being locked up, the girl was also allegedly maltreated and her salaries were not paid.

Jonathan Agustin, DSWD rescue officer said the victim will undergo medical and psychological examination to assess her medical and mental condition. Yu held several hours of negotiation before they were able to secure the release of the girl.

Barangay tanods interviewed by The STAR said that the girl was locked up in one of the rooms of the apartment after finishing her chores. The barangay tanods said the girl often display a cardboard seeking help from passersby.

‘Nothing to do with scandal’
The camp of businessman Lucio Tan yesterday said the taipan has no involvement whatsoever with the recent scandal involving his younger brother’s family over the alleged detention and maltreatment of the latter’s housemaid.

Lucio Tan Group spokesperson Lt. Gen. Salvador Mison (retired) issued the clarification following published reports about the alleged rescue of an 18-year-old househelp from Tanenglian’s residence Monday.

“While it is true that Mr. Lucio Tan and Mr. Mariano Tanenglian live in the same compound in Quezon City, they maintain separate and independent households. They also have different sets of house helpers,” Mison said.
“We are saddened by this unfortunate turn of events. We hope Mr. Tanenglian’s family would be able to explain their side in the proper forum,” he added.

Mison, who is also president of Tan’s holding firm Basic Holdings Corp., said the taipan was out of the country when the incident occurred. He only learned about the incident by family members and media reports.

Source:
The Philippine Star
August 13, 2009
Page 14

CHR pushes probe on battered maid’s plight

The Commission on Human Rights has widened its investigation into the plight of an 18-year-old from Zamboanga del Sur who was rescued from the residence of the estranged brother of business tycoon Lucio Tan, along Biak-na-bato, Sto. Domingo, Quezon City Monday afternoon.

Lawyer Carmelita Rosete, chief of the CHR protection and monitoring division for the National Capital Region told The STAR that they are looking into the possible violation of child abuse and child trafficking on the case of Mary Jane Sollano who was rescued from the residence of Mariano Tan by a composite team of CHR, DSWD and the Quezon City Police District.

“ She was still a minor when she was recruited five years ago,” she said.
Rosete said Sollano want to help her sick father but she went missing in the last five years until Aljane Bacanto, a fellow housemaid escaped and revealed the location of the missing girl. The parents and relatives of the girl has filed complaint with the CHR which in turn coordinated with the DSWD and police to secure the release of the girl from Tan’s household.

The CHR is coordinating with the lawyer of the victim for the possible filing of criminal cases against people responsible for the plight of Sollano. Sto. Domingo barangay captain Richard Yu held several house negotiations with the lawyers of Tan for the release of the housemaid.

Tony Abbago, CHR investigator said the victim is now undergoing physical, emotional and physiological test.Roland Sollano, native of Tigbao Surigao del Sur, father of the victim, has filed a complaint before the CHR over the alleged illegal detention of his daughter for the last five years inside Tan’s residence. He said his daughter was recruited from their town five years ago and since then they lost contact with her until a mother of another victim who was also rescued in the same household wrote her the plight of his daughter.

“I have not seen my daughter for the last five years, she is now 18 years old”, Sollano told The STAR in the Visayan dialect. Reports said that aside from being locked up, the girl was also allegedly maltreated and her salaries were not paid.

Jonathan Agustin, DSWD rescue officer said the victim will undergo medical and psychological examination to assess her medical and mental condition. Yu held several hours of negotiation before they were able to secure the release of the girl.

Barangay tanods interviewed by The STAR said that the girl was locked up in one of the rooms of the apartment after finishing her chores. The barangay tanods said the girl often display a cardboard seeking help from passersby.

‘Nothing to do with scandal’
The camp of businessman Lucio Tan yesterday said the taipan has no involvement whatsoever with the recent scandal involving his younger brother’s family over the alleged detention and maltreatment of the latter’s housemaid.

Lucio Tan Group spokesperson Lt. Gen. Salvador Mison (retired) issued the clarification following published reports about the alleged rescue of an 18-year-old househelp from Tanenglian’s residence Monday.

“While it is true that Mr. Lucio Tan and Mr. Mariano Tanenglian live in the same compound in Quezon City, they maintain separate and independent households. They also have different sets of house helpers,” Mison said.
“We are saddened by this unfortunate turn of events. We hope Mr. Tanenglian’s family would be able to explain their side in the proper forum,” he added.

Mison, who is also president of Tan’s holding firm Basic Holdings Corp., said the taipan was out of the country when the incident occurred. He only learned about the incident by family members and media reports.

Source:
The Philippine Star
August 13, 2009
Page 14