Business Mirror
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 21:02 Mia Gonzalez / Reporter
MALACAÑANG said on Wednesday that it is “working overtime” to comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking, which it hopes would be enough to upgrade the Philippines’ ranking to Tier 1 in the global fight against the menace.
President Aquino made the commitment at the ceremony to hand over the petition to stop trafficking of children and young people—signed by some 470,000 Filipinos—at the Malacañang Heroes’ Hall, where he said he is working hard to improve the economy to make Filipinos less vulnerable to human-trafficking syndicates.
“I assure all of you that we will not cease in our efforts and that the Philippines will put in extra hours to make certain that we comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, so that we may rise to another tier,” he said.
The President said the human-trafficking situation in the country “is getting a bit better,” as shown by the recognition it received from the United States, which upgraded the Philippines from its Tier 2 Watch list to its Tier 2 list in the US 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report.
He assured those who attended the ceremony that the Philippines supports their advocacies.
“We are, and we will continue to fulfill the implementation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act to prevent human trafficking, and to provide protection and services to those who’ve already been victimized,” he said, adding that his administration has convicted 32 human traffickers in just a year, and “filed cases against many more.”
The President said that Filipino children seem to be prone to being trafficked because about 20 percent of country’s population live below the poverty line, which is why “the first part of my platform deals with job generation and we have been making significant inroads.”
“We have to improve the economy, make them less vulnerable. The economy provides us the resources to hire more personnel to go after all of these people who would seek to prey on the most vulnerable sectors,” he said.
Ecpat (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of children for sexual purposes) International, through its chairman Amihan Abueva, urged the President to develop sustainable and comprehensive community-based prevention programs aimed at the most vulnerable groups; allocate funding for the effective implementation of interventions and strengthen the capacity of social service providers.
Ecpat also urged the President to intensify specific programs for the recovery and reintegration of children victims of sex trafficking.
Showing posts with label human trafficking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label human trafficking. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Trafficking of Filipinos in Haiti worsens
The Manila Times
June 12, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Human traffickers are running circles on Philippine authorities, despite a crackdown on the illegal deployment of Filipinos for non-existent jobs in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, according to diplomatic sources.
The sources said at least 40 more overseas Filipino workers were reported to have arrived in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince since the embassy exposed the illegal deployment of 26 workers last year.
Many of these workers remain jobless or are able to find only part-time work, and at rates much lower than the $2,000 to $3,000 managerial posts promised them by the recruiters, leaders of the small but closely-knit Filipino community (FilCom) in Haiti said.
Ambassador Alfredo Maximo, charge d’affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Havana (Cuba), which has diplomatic jurisdiction over Filipinos in Haiti, said the recruiters are now deploying the OFWs by getting them tourist visas in nearby countries like the Bahamas. From there, they are given visas tourist visas, believed to be spurious, to get to Port-au-Prince.
“The recruiters have found a new way to deflect immigration scrutiny. They hide the true destination of the OFWs,” Maximo, who visited Port-au-Prince on May 15-22, said via email. “They bring them first to Nassau, Bahamas before sending them to Port-au-Prince, probably using fake stamped visas. Cuban immigration officials have found such fake visas in the past from OFWs who were coursed through Cuba by their recruiters.”
The ambassador said the recruiters falsify the Bahamian visa, including the signature of the Bahamian Consul in Havana, adding that embassy officials have already met with Bahamian diplomats in Havana to warn them about the current modus operandi used by recruiters to bring in hapless OFWs to Haiti via Nassau.
“Take note that the Haitian government does not require visas for Filipinos in the Caribbean who want to travel to Haiti as tourists. This loophole is currently being used by illegal recruiters to bring in undocumented workers to Haiti,” Maximo explained.
Maximo said they have already reported the suspected illegal recruiters to authorities in Haiti. However, the Haitian bureaucracy tends to be slow and it is saddled by the more urgent task of rebuilding from the devastating earthquake and its attendant challenges.
Maximo failed to identify the illegal recruiters, but other sources said some of the new arrivals were recruited by the group of Leo Maning, who has been reported by Philippine consular officials to Haitian authorities.
The same sources said another recruiter, a certain Armand Palisoc, is illegally deploying Filipino workers for non-existent jobs. Palisoc is said to be a U.S.-based operator who moved to Port-au-Prince, after the earthquake last year, to recruit OFWs to Haiti.
“Palisoc also figured prominently in the recruitment of the 50 OFWs who worked for one year at E-Power (the Haitian power company) last year,” said another source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
“When said OFWs arrived in Haiti, they found out that they were receiving considerably less salaries than what was stipulated in their contract with their recruiter, a Korean company named DEECO, which has periodically surfaced in previous cases of illegal recruitment to Haiti, including that of Jesus “Jess” Laurenaria,” the source added.
Consular and community leaders, including Honorary Consul Fitzgerald Brandt, FilCom president Frankie Bagadiong and Filipino missionary priest Fr. Andrew Labatorio, are trying to reach out to the newly-arrived OFWs to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
Charge d’affaires Maximo said “the main selling point [used by illegal recruiters] in bringing people to Haiti is the impression that Filipinos over there have managerial and supervisory positions.”
That impression, of course, is wrong.
“Nowadays, finding jobs in Haiti is becoming very difficult as many of the newly-arrived recruitment victims have found out,” Maximo said.
Maximo admitted that the embassy or the Philippine government can only do so much without a formal complaint of a case being filed by the victims.
He added that so far, he is only aware of one case filed against the alleged perpetrators, but the case is not moving because the complainant is still in Haiti trying to look for a job.
Maximo was referring to the lawsuit filed by Laurenaria through her sister, Lourdes Laurenaria, in Manila.
According to Maximo, the embassy recently repatriated two of the trafficking victims — Edward Acosta and Joselito Miranda, who requested that they be returned to the Philippines.
Maximo and FilCom leaders said they are hoping Acosta and Miranda would file charges against their recruiters, so they could be prosecuted and sent to prison.
LAZARO Y. MEDINA JR.
June 12, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Human traffickers are running circles on Philippine authorities, despite a crackdown on the illegal deployment of Filipinos for non-existent jobs in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, according to diplomatic sources.
The sources said at least 40 more overseas Filipino workers were reported to have arrived in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince since the embassy exposed the illegal deployment of 26 workers last year.
Many of these workers remain jobless or are able to find only part-time work, and at rates much lower than the $2,000 to $3,000 managerial posts promised them by the recruiters, leaders of the small but closely-knit Filipino community (FilCom) in Haiti said.
Ambassador Alfredo Maximo, charge d’affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Havana (Cuba), which has diplomatic jurisdiction over Filipinos in Haiti, said the recruiters are now deploying the OFWs by getting them tourist visas in nearby countries like the Bahamas. From there, they are given visas tourist visas, believed to be spurious, to get to Port-au-Prince.
“The recruiters have found a new way to deflect immigration scrutiny. They hide the true destination of the OFWs,” Maximo, who visited Port-au-Prince on May 15-22, said via email. “They bring them first to Nassau, Bahamas before sending them to Port-au-Prince, probably using fake stamped visas. Cuban immigration officials have found such fake visas in the past from OFWs who were coursed through Cuba by their recruiters.”
The ambassador said the recruiters falsify the Bahamian visa, including the signature of the Bahamian Consul in Havana, adding that embassy officials have already met with Bahamian diplomats in Havana to warn them about the current modus operandi used by recruiters to bring in hapless OFWs to Haiti via Nassau.
“Take note that the Haitian government does not require visas for Filipinos in the Caribbean who want to travel to Haiti as tourists. This loophole is currently being used by illegal recruiters to bring in undocumented workers to Haiti,” Maximo explained.
Maximo said they have already reported the suspected illegal recruiters to authorities in Haiti. However, the Haitian bureaucracy tends to be slow and it is saddled by the more urgent task of rebuilding from the devastating earthquake and its attendant challenges.
Maximo failed to identify the illegal recruiters, but other sources said some of the new arrivals were recruited by the group of Leo Maning, who has been reported by Philippine consular officials to Haitian authorities.
The same sources said another recruiter, a certain Armand Palisoc, is illegally deploying Filipino workers for non-existent jobs. Palisoc is said to be a U.S.-based operator who moved to Port-au-Prince, after the earthquake last year, to recruit OFWs to Haiti.
“Palisoc also figured prominently in the recruitment of the 50 OFWs who worked for one year at E-Power (the Haitian power company) last year,” said another source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
“When said OFWs arrived in Haiti, they found out that they were receiving considerably less salaries than what was stipulated in their contract with their recruiter, a Korean company named DEECO, which has periodically surfaced in previous cases of illegal recruitment to Haiti, including that of Jesus “Jess” Laurenaria,” the source added.
Consular and community leaders, including Honorary Consul Fitzgerald Brandt, FilCom president Frankie Bagadiong and Filipino missionary priest Fr. Andrew Labatorio, are trying to reach out to the newly-arrived OFWs to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
Charge d’affaires Maximo said “the main selling point [used by illegal recruiters] in bringing people to Haiti is the impression that Filipinos over there have managerial and supervisory positions.”
That impression, of course, is wrong.
“Nowadays, finding jobs in Haiti is becoming very difficult as many of the newly-arrived recruitment victims have found out,” Maximo said.
Maximo admitted that the embassy or the Philippine government can only do so much without a formal complaint of a case being filed by the victims.
He added that so far, he is only aware of one case filed against the alleged perpetrators, but the case is not moving because the complainant is still in Haiti trying to look for a job.
Maximo was referring to the lawsuit filed by Laurenaria through her sister, Lourdes Laurenaria, in Manila.
According to Maximo, the embassy recently repatriated two of the trafficking victims — Edward Acosta and Joselito Miranda, who requested that they be returned to the Philippines.
Maximo and FilCom leaders said they are hoping Acosta and Miranda would file charges against their recruiters, so they could be prosecuted and sent to prison.
LAZARO Y. MEDINA JR.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Binay calls for tougher stance against human trafficking
Business Mirror
Thursday, 28 April 2011 20:03
Butch Fernandez / Reporter
VICE President Jejomar Binay on Thursday batted for a tougher government crackdown against human traffickers as he called on judges, prosecutors and law enforcers to deliver “greater results” in the combating human trafficking.
Addressing the multiagency Summit on Trafficking in Persons, Binay said: “We must demonstrate greater results in efficiently investigating, prosecuting, and convicting both labor and sex trafficking offenders involved in the trafficking of Filipinos in the country and abroad.”
He pressed concerned agencies to increase efforts to “vigorously investigate and prosecute government officials complicit in trafficking, dedicate more resources and personnel to prosecuting trafficking cases and devote increased resources to victim and witness protection.”
Binay added that as the presidential adviser for overseas workers’ concerns, it is also his “personal advocacy to see that we increase our efforts to engage governments of destination countries, through diplomatic and law enforcement channels, in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking offenders.”
In attendance at the summit, convened by the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, were officials of the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Immigration, the Department of the Interior and Local Governments and the Philippine National Police, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Philippine Judicial Academy.
According to Binay, who serves as chairman emeritus of the Interagency Council Against Trafficking, “human trafficking remained one of the most pressing challenges to the Philippines” adding that “cooperation between law enforcers, prosecutors and judges was crucial in addressing the issue.”
He advised the summit participants to focus on “prosecution, protection and prevention,” which were the three key result areas outlined in the 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report of the United States State Department.
Thursday, 28 April 2011 20:03
Butch Fernandez / Reporter
VICE President Jejomar Binay on Thursday batted for a tougher government crackdown against human traffickers as he called on judges, prosecutors and law enforcers to deliver “greater results” in the combating human trafficking.
Addressing the multiagency Summit on Trafficking in Persons, Binay said: “We must demonstrate greater results in efficiently investigating, prosecuting, and convicting both labor and sex trafficking offenders involved in the trafficking of Filipinos in the country and abroad.”
He pressed concerned agencies to increase efforts to “vigorously investigate and prosecute government officials complicit in trafficking, dedicate more resources and personnel to prosecuting trafficking cases and devote increased resources to victim and witness protection.”
Binay added that as the presidential adviser for overseas workers’ concerns, it is also his “personal advocacy to see that we increase our efforts to engage governments of destination countries, through diplomatic and law enforcement channels, in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking offenders.”
In attendance at the summit, convened by the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, were officials of the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Immigration, the Department of the Interior and Local Governments and the Philippine National Police, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Philippine Judicial Academy.
According to Binay, who serves as chairman emeritus of the Interagency Council Against Trafficking, “human trafficking remained one of the most pressing challenges to the Philippines” adding that “cooperation between law enforcers, prosecutors and judges was crucial in addressing the issue.”
He advised the summit participants to focus on “prosecution, protection and prevention,” which were the three key result areas outlined in the 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report of the United States State Department.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Aquino claim on trafficking corrected
Manila Standard Today
April 27, 2011
Eric B. Apolonio
THE American Embassy in Manila on Monday corrected reports that the United States had removed the Philippines from its watch list of “Tier 2” states that do not fully comply with the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
In an e-mail message sent to several publications, embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Brown Thompson said an interim report cited the “significant progress” that the Philippines had made in combating human trafficking, but mentioned no change in its status as a Tier 2 state.
The next tier ranking will be in the next annual Trafficking in Persons Report, which is scheduled for release in June.
The embassy statement contradicted President Benigno Aquino III’s announcement earlier this month that 22 convictions in human trafficking cases helped remove the Philippines from the US watch list. Mr. Aquino made the announcement in General Santos City during the national convention of the Prosecutors League of the Philippines.
The Philippines has been in the United States’ Tier 2 category since 2008.
A US State Department assessment says “there are many cases of overseas Filipino workers all over the globe who are victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment.”
Filipino women are often lured abroad with false promises of legitimate employment, and are subjected to commercial exploitation in destinations throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America, the assessment says.
April 27, 2011
Eric B. Apolonio
THE American Embassy in Manila on Monday corrected reports that the United States had removed the Philippines from its watch list of “Tier 2” states that do not fully comply with the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
In an e-mail message sent to several publications, embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Brown Thompson said an interim report cited the “significant progress” that the Philippines had made in combating human trafficking, but mentioned no change in its status as a Tier 2 state.
The next tier ranking will be in the next annual Trafficking in Persons Report, which is scheduled for release in June.
The embassy statement contradicted President Benigno Aquino III’s announcement earlier this month that 22 convictions in human trafficking cases helped remove the Philippines from the US watch list. Mr. Aquino made the announcement in General Santos City during the national convention of the Prosecutors League of the Philippines.
The Philippines has been in the United States’ Tier 2 category since 2008.
A US State Department assessment says “there are many cases of overseas Filipino workers all over the globe who are victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment.”
Filipino women are often lured abroad with false promises of legitimate employment, and are subjected to commercial exploitation in destinations throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America, the assessment says.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Phl boosts campaign against human trafficking
The Philippine Star
April 21, 2011
By Edu Punay
MANILA, Philippines - The government has boosted its campaign against human trafficking operations in the country after joining forces with US-based human rights organization International Justice Mission (IJM).
In a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed yesterday afternoon, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and IJM committed to collaborate in combating trafficking and other violent exploitation of Filipino women and children through intensified rescue of victims and prosecution of perpetrators.
Under the MOA, the IJM would provide assistance to concerned agents of the National Bureau of Investigation, DOJ’s law enforcement arm, in terms of technical, legal and logistic support, capacity-building training, and prosecution of cases.
The non-government organization based in Washington also vowed to train NBI agents and DOJ prosecutors based on an updated manual on anti-human trafficking law enforcement and prosecution.
IJM national director for the Philippines Andrey Sawchenko said the move was part of their group’s commitment “to actively seek the protection of the law for those who most need it.”
“For those who are even now suffering in silence, victimized by traffickers and unable to win their own freedom, well-intentioned words will not be enough. They need rescue. They need security. They need to know that the public justice system will be working on their behalf,” he said.
The DOJ, for its part, vowed to strengthen anti-trafficking operations in Metro Manila, Cebu City and Angeles City in Pampanga - key areas identified to have relatively high rates of trafficking activity.
It is also tasked to prioritize resolution of human trafficking complaints and monitor the cases when they reach the courts. The department and IJM, under the MOA, would coordinate on capacity-building projects.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, in her message during the signing of MOA at the DOJ, cited the importance of IJM’s assistance in the government’s campaign against human trafficking operations.
“For so long, the Philippines has been seen as a haven for human traffickers, who use our nation as a source, destination and transit point for their operations. They’ve been met with so much success that trafficking in human beings is now considered worldwide as one of the most profitable criminal activities, next to the arms and illegal drug trade.
“Our aim is simple: succeed in removing the Philippines from their ‘trade route,’” said De Lima, also chair of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar, DOJ official-in-charge of IACAT operations and human trafficking cases, also welcomed the MOA.
Earlier, DOJ officials have expressed optimism that the country would be removed from the Tier 2 watch list on human trafficking of the US State Department.
April 21, 2011
By Edu Punay
MANILA, Philippines - The government has boosted its campaign against human trafficking operations in the country after joining forces with US-based human rights organization International Justice Mission (IJM).
In a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed yesterday afternoon, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and IJM committed to collaborate in combating trafficking and other violent exploitation of Filipino women and children through intensified rescue of victims and prosecution of perpetrators.
Under the MOA, the IJM would provide assistance to concerned agents of the National Bureau of Investigation, DOJ’s law enforcement arm, in terms of technical, legal and logistic support, capacity-building training, and prosecution of cases.
The non-government organization based in Washington also vowed to train NBI agents and DOJ prosecutors based on an updated manual on anti-human trafficking law enforcement and prosecution.
IJM national director for the Philippines Andrey Sawchenko said the move was part of their group’s commitment “to actively seek the protection of the law for those who most need it.”
“For those who are even now suffering in silence, victimized by traffickers and unable to win their own freedom, well-intentioned words will not be enough. They need rescue. They need security. They need to know that the public justice system will be working on their behalf,” he said.
The DOJ, for its part, vowed to strengthen anti-trafficking operations in Metro Manila, Cebu City and Angeles City in Pampanga - key areas identified to have relatively high rates of trafficking activity.
It is also tasked to prioritize resolution of human trafficking complaints and monitor the cases when they reach the courts. The department and IJM, under the MOA, would coordinate on capacity-building projects.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, in her message during the signing of MOA at the DOJ, cited the importance of IJM’s assistance in the government’s campaign against human trafficking operations.
“For so long, the Philippines has been seen as a haven for human traffickers, who use our nation as a source, destination and transit point for their operations. They’ve been met with so much success that trafficking in human beings is now considered worldwide as one of the most profitable criminal activities, next to the arms and illegal drug trade.
“Our aim is simple: succeed in removing the Philippines from their ‘trade route,’” said De Lima, also chair of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar, DOJ official-in-charge of IACAT operations and human trafficking cases, also welcomed the MOA.
Earlier, DOJ officials have expressed optimism that the country would be removed from the Tier 2 watch list on human trafficking of the US State Department.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Asean ministers meet in Manila to tackle human trafficking
The Philippine Star
October 28, 2010
By Cecille Suerte Felipe
MANILA, Philippines - Ministers of the member states of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are set to discuss the problems of human trafficking, illegal drugs and terrorism in the region.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo welcomed his counterparts from the ASEAN yesterday as he stressed the need to strengthen regional cooperation and commitment against these crimes and the other transnational crimes.
Robredo said these issues would be the top agenda of the 10th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC).
“Organized crime groups that are operating across borders are taking advantage of the sophisticated weaponry, modern technologies and telecommunications,” Robredo told the ASEAN delegates during the formal opening ceremony at the Dusit Hotel in Makati City.
Robredo led the Philippine delegation with Undersecretary Rico Puno in the welcoming ceremonies.
Puno, chairman of this year’s SOMTC, explained the ASEAN SOMTC is the operating arm of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMC), the highest policy-making body on ASEAN cooperation in combating transnational crimes.
The SOMTC is instrumental in realizing the recommendations of the Vientiane Action Plan to develop the ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism, which has been signed by all ASEAN member countries.
Robredo, on the other hand, told the ASEAN forum that “the sophistication of crime groups should serve as a challenge for the ASEAN to work more closely together for a more comprehensive regional strategy against transnational crimes.”
“Crimes have evolved and taken many forms and these will continue to be an issue for all of us here,” he said.
Robredo said the Philippines was chosen as the Lead Shepherd for Trafficking in Persons (TIP), which has been in the forefront of regional and local actions against trafficking in persons.
Robredo said human trafficking is a significant issue in the Philippines since 2003, which prompted the government to enact Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
The law makes us one of the first countries in Asia to have enacted an anti-trafficking legislation, Robredo pointed out.
Robredo told the forum that the DILG had issued several directives to local government units for the strict implementation of RA 9208 and the establishment of the necessary institutional mechanisms for the protection and support of trafficked persons.
He added the National Police Commission also issued guidelines for improving case management and initiating efforts towards addressing the problem of trafficking in persons.
Participants in the high-level ASEAN meet are senior officials from ASEAN member states of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
Representatives from international organizations also attended the forum.
“It is my hope that by the time this meeting comes to a close, we will be in a more strategic position to effectively address new and more sophisticated criminal threats, and closer to our goal of a peaceful and stable ASEAN region,” Robredo said.
This developed as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday said a Filipino was sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking.
The DFA told presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) Vice President Jejomar Binay that the Filipino was sentenced to death last Oct. 11 amid the state prosecutor’s petition for a lower sentence of life imprisonment.
The DFA did not identify the Filipino death convict but revealed she was a drug mule caught carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin at the Audisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta last April 25.
DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. warned that Indonesia and other countries have imposed stiff penalties on illegal drug possession.
“We warn our countrymen from carrying drugs when traveling overseas and especially not to accept packages which they suspect contain drugs, and also to be wary of the modus operandi being used by drug trafficking syndicates. If they are caught, they will face very dire circumstances,” Conejos said.
The DFA said some 112 Filipino migrant workers are now detained in China facing drug-related cases.
As of Oct. 21, 2010, the DFA said there are 76 Filipinos in China who have been convicted and sentenced to death for drug trafficking.
Of the 112 death penalty cases, 16 are OFWs charged for multiple murder/murder, murder with robbery, blasphemy and drug-related case.
The cases of 18 OFWs in Malaysia who were sentenced to death include drug trafficking, robbery with homicide, rape with homicide and murder.
Conejos said there are already 205 Filipinos facing drug trafficking cases abroad.
Meanwhile, the Blas Ople Policy Center, the Cravings Group and Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday launched a job training scholarship program for victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
Dubbed as the “Skills-Up” program, the project aims to equip victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking with housekeeping and barista skills to enable them to penetrate the local and overseas job markets.
For its initial phase, the Blas Ople Policy Center has recommended 20 scholars for the training program.
Susan Ople, president of the Blas Ople Policy Center said the 20 scholars, who are victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment, would undergo a three-month course on hotel housekeeping and barista training for free. – With Pia Lee-Brago, Mike Frialde
October 28, 2010
By Cecille Suerte Felipe
MANILA, Philippines - Ministers of the member states of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are set to discuss the problems of human trafficking, illegal drugs and terrorism in the region.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo welcomed his counterparts from the ASEAN yesterday as he stressed the need to strengthen regional cooperation and commitment against these crimes and the other transnational crimes.
Robredo said these issues would be the top agenda of the 10th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC).
“Organized crime groups that are operating across borders are taking advantage of the sophisticated weaponry, modern technologies and telecommunications,” Robredo told the ASEAN delegates during the formal opening ceremony at the Dusit Hotel in Makati City.
Robredo led the Philippine delegation with Undersecretary Rico Puno in the welcoming ceremonies.
Puno, chairman of this year’s SOMTC, explained the ASEAN SOMTC is the operating arm of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMC), the highest policy-making body on ASEAN cooperation in combating transnational crimes.
The SOMTC is instrumental in realizing the recommendations of the Vientiane Action Plan to develop the ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism, which has been signed by all ASEAN member countries.
Robredo, on the other hand, told the ASEAN forum that “the sophistication of crime groups should serve as a challenge for the ASEAN to work more closely together for a more comprehensive regional strategy against transnational crimes.”
“Crimes have evolved and taken many forms and these will continue to be an issue for all of us here,” he said.
Robredo said the Philippines was chosen as the Lead Shepherd for Trafficking in Persons (TIP), which has been in the forefront of regional and local actions against trafficking in persons.
Robredo said human trafficking is a significant issue in the Philippines since 2003, which prompted the government to enact Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
The law makes us one of the first countries in Asia to have enacted an anti-trafficking legislation, Robredo pointed out.
Robredo told the forum that the DILG had issued several directives to local government units for the strict implementation of RA 9208 and the establishment of the necessary institutional mechanisms for the protection and support of trafficked persons.
He added the National Police Commission also issued guidelines for improving case management and initiating efforts towards addressing the problem of trafficking in persons.
Participants in the high-level ASEAN meet are senior officials from ASEAN member states of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
Representatives from international organizations also attended the forum.
“It is my hope that by the time this meeting comes to a close, we will be in a more strategic position to effectively address new and more sophisticated criminal threats, and closer to our goal of a peaceful and stable ASEAN region,” Robredo said.
This developed as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday said a Filipino was sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking.
The DFA told presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) Vice President Jejomar Binay that the Filipino was sentenced to death last Oct. 11 amid the state prosecutor’s petition for a lower sentence of life imprisonment.
The DFA did not identify the Filipino death convict but revealed she was a drug mule caught carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin at the Audisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta last April 25.
DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. warned that Indonesia and other countries have imposed stiff penalties on illegal drug possession.
“We warn our countrymen from carrying drugs when traveling overseas and especially not to accept packages which they suspect contain drugs, and also to be wary of the modus operandi being used by drug trafficking syndicates. If they are caught, they will face very dire circumstances,” Conejos said.
The DFA said some 112 Filipino migrant workers are now detained in China facing drug-related cases.
As of Oct. 21, 2010, the DFA said there are 76 Filipinos in China who have been convicted and sentenced to death for drug trafficking.
Of the 112 death penalty cases, 16 are OFWs charged for multiple murder/murder, murder with robbery, blasphemy and drug-related case.
The cases of 18 OFWs in Malaysia who were sentenced to death include drug trafficking, robbery with homicide, rape with homicide and murder.
Conejos said there are already 205 Filipinos facing drug trafficking cases abroad.
Meanwhile, the Blas Ople Policy Center, the Cravings Group and Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday launched a job training scholarship program for victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
Dubbed as the “Skills-Up” program, the project aims to equip victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking with housekeeping and barista skills to enable them to penetrate the local and overseas job markets.
For its initial phase, the Blas Ople Policy Center has recommended 20 scholars for the training program.
Susan Ople, president of the Blas Ople Policy Center said the 20 scholars, who are victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment, would undergo a three-month course on hotel housekeeping and barista training for free. – With Pia Lee-Brago, Mike Frialde
Monday, June 7, 2010
Court issues new arrest warrant vs Tanenglian, family (The Philippine Star)
A Quezon City judge has issued a new warrant of arrest and hold departure order against Mariano Tanenglian and his family due to criminal charges filed against them by a former maid.
Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 102 Judge Ma. Lourdes Giron issued a seven-page order after finding probable cause for violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law (RA 7610) in five cases pending against Mariano, his wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximilian.
Giron set bail at P80,000 for each count of the charges against the Tanenglians by their former housemaid, Mary Jane Sollano.
Giron, however, cleared the Tanenglians of charges for alleged violation of the Anti-Trafficking of Persons and for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, both unbailable offenses.
The judge said the complainant was not forced to render service to the accused since the complainant was first recruited by an employment agency and later deployed to the Tanenglian household.
Giron also said there was no illegal detention because it was necessary for the maid to stay at the house of the accused.
Quezon City RTC Branch 94 Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria also issued a warrant of arrest and directed the issuance of an HDO against the Tanenglians in connection with similar charges filed earlier by Aljane Bacanto, another former maid of the Tanenglians.
The Tanenglians also have pending cases before Branch 94 for nine counts of violating RA 7610, Republic Act 9208 (Anti-Trafficking of Persons Act), kidnapping, and serious illegal detention.
Members of the women’s group Gabriela attended the hearing in a show of support. Lana Linagan, Gabriela secretary general, said they hope the arrest warrants are served to show that justice does not discriminate between the poor and the rich.
The parents of the two maids, who were present at the hearing, said they would pursue the separate cases of their children and would not accept any settlement if any was offered.
Lawyers of both parties declined to comment citing the confidential nature of Family Court proceedings. Both Branch 102 and 94 are Family Courts.
Source:
Jerry Botial, The Philippine Star
June 05, 2010
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=581383&publicationSubCategoryId=65
Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 102 Judge Ma. Lourdes Giron issued a seven-page order after finding probable cause for violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law (RA 7610) in five cases pending against Mariano, his wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximilian.
Giron set bail at P80,000 for each count of the charges against the Tanenglians by their former housemaid, Mary Jane Sollano.
Giron, however, cleared the Tanenglians of charges for alleged violation of the Anti-Trafficking of Persons and for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, both unbailable offenses.
The judge said the complainant was not forced to render service to the accused since the complainant was first recruited by an employment agency and later deployed to the Tanenglian household.
Giron also said there was no illegal detention because it was necessary for the maid to stay at the house of the accused.
Quezon City RTC Branch 94 Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria also issued a warrant of arrest and directed the issuance of an HDO against the Tanenglians in connection with similar charges filed earlier by Aljane Bacanto, another former maid of the Tanenglians.
The Tanenglians also have pending cases before Branch 94 for nine counts of violating RA 7610, Republic Act 9208 (Anti-Trafficking of Persons Act), kidnapping, and serious illegal detention.
Members of the women’s group Gabriela attended the hearing in a show of support. Lana Linagan, Gabriela secretary general, said they hope the arrest warrants are served to show that justice does not discriminate between the poor and the rich.
The parents of the two maids, who were present at the hearing, said they would pursue the separate cases of their children and would not accept any settlement if any was offered.
Lawyers of both parties declined to comment citing the confidential nature of Family Court proceedings. Both Branch 102 and 94 are Family Courts.
Source:
Jerry Botial, The Philippine Star
June 05, 2010
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=581383&publicationSubCategoryId=65
Taipan’s brother gets another arrest warrant (Manila Standard Today)
Mariano Tanenglian—-taipan Lucio Tan’s brother—-again faces arrest over criminal charges filed by another former maid.
In an order dated May 18, 2010, Branch 102 Judge Ma. Lourdes Giron of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court also directed the issuance of a hold departure order on him, wife Aleta along with children Fayette and Maximilian for violation on five counts of the Anti-Child Abuse law.
“Allegations in the affidavit of the private complainant would reveal that there is more of an abuse or maltreatment committed by the accused,” the court ruled.
A bail of P80,000 was set for each of the charges filed against the Tanenglians by former maid Mary Jane Sollano for maltreatment.
But Giron has cleared them of violating the Anti-Trafficking of Persons law, and for kidnapping and serious illegal detention which are unbailable.
She found no showing of involuntary servitude because Sillano was recruited by an employment agency which placed her in the Tanenglian household.
Last May 4, QC RTC Branch 94 Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria issued a warrant of arrest and hold order against the accused on similar charges filed by former maid Aljane Bacanto.
A women’s advocacy group led by Grabriela secretary general Lana Linagan attended Friday’s hearing on the accused’s motion to quash.
“We hope that the warrants of arrest would be eventually served to show that justice does not discriminate between the poor and the rich,” she said, urging lawmakers to pass a measure affording better protection for household service providers.
Also at the hearing were the maids’ parents who vowed to pursue the separate cases of their children and reject any settlement, if offered.
Lawyers of both parties, refused to make any comment, citing the confidentiality of Family Court proceedings.
Complainant Bacanto was represented by counsel Al Parreno with lawyer Jose Flaminiano for the Tanenglians.
In her complaint filed before the Department of Justice, Bacanto said from the time she was hired in May 2006, the accused restricted her to the residence. She was also not given enough food and her salary remained unpaid.
Source:
Roy Pelovello, Manila Standard Today
June 5 - 6, 2010
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideMetro.htm?f=2010/june/5/metro2.isx&d=2010/june/5
In an order dated May 18, 2010, Branch 102 Judge Ma. Lourdes Giron of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court also directed the issuance of a hold departure order on him, wife Aleta along with children Fayette and Maximilian for violation on five counts of the Anti-Child Abuse law.
“Allegations in the affidavit of the private complainant would reveal that there is more of an abuse or maltreatment committed by the accused,” the court ruled.
A bail of P80,000 was set for each of the charges filed against the Tanenglians by former maid Mary Jane Sollano for maltreatment.
But Giron has cleared them of violating the Anti-Trafficking of Persons law, and for kidnapping and serious illegal detention which are unbailable.
She found no showing of involuntary servitude because Sillano was recruited by an employment agency which placed her in the Tanenglian household.
Last May 4, QC RTC Branch 94 Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria issued a warrant of arrest and hold order against the accused on similar charges filed by former maid Aljane Bacanto.
A women’s advocacy group led by Grabriela secretary general Lana Linagan attended Friday’s hearing on the accused’s motion to quash.
“We hope that the warrants of arrest would be eventually served to show that justice does not discriminate between the poor and the rich,” she said, urging lawmakers to pass a measure affording better protection for household service providers.
Also at the hearing were the maids’ parents who vowed to pursue the separate cases of their children and reject any settlement, if offered.
Lawyers of both parties, refused to make any comment, citing the confidentiality of Family Court proceedings.
Complainant Bacanto was represented by counsel Al Parreno with lawyer Jose Flaminiano for the Tanenglians.
In her complaint filed before the Department of Justice, Bacanto said from the time she was hired in May 2006, the accused restricted her to the residence. She was also not given enough food and her salary remained unpaid.
Source:
Roy Pelovello, Manila Standard Today
June 5 - 6, 2010
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideMetro.htm?f=2010/june/5/metro2.isx&d=2010/june/5
Bagong warrant, HDO inisyu vs utol ni Lucio Tan (Pilipino Star Ngayon)
Nagpalabas ng panibagong warrant of arrest at hold departure order (HDO) ang Quezon City court laban kay Mariano Tanenglian, kapatid ni Tycoon Lucio Tan, at sa pamilya nito kaugnay ng kasong kriminal na isinampa laban sa kanila ng dating kasambahay na si Mary Jane Sollano na nag-aakusang minaltrato siya ng mga naging amo.
Sa 7-pahinang desisyon na ipinalabas noong Mayo 18, 2010 ni QC Regional Trial Court (QC RTC) Branch 102 Judge Ma. Lourdes Giron ipinag-utos nito ang pagpapalabas ng warrant of arrest at HDO laban sa mga Tanenglian matapos mabatid na may batayan ang inihaing limang kaso ni Sollano kaugnay ng paglabag sa Anti-Child Abuse Law (R.A. 7610).
Kabilang sa mga akusadong bababaan ng mga warrant sina Mariano, ang asawa nitong si Aleta, at mga anak na sina Favette at Maximilian.
“In sum, the allegations in the affidavit of the private complainant would reveal that there is more of an abuse or maltreatment committed by the accused against the former,” pahayag ni Judge Giron. Nagtakda ng P80,000 piyansa ang korte para sa bawat kasong naihain laban sa mga akusado.
Sa kabilang dako, ipinawalang-sala naman ni Judge Giron ang mga Tanenglian sa paglabag sa Anti-Trafficking of Persons, kidnapping at serious illegal detention—na pare-parehong hindi napipiyansahang kaso.
Ayon sa hukom hindi umano pinuwersa ng pamilya ang nagrereklamo na mamasukan sa kanila sapagkat nagmula ito sa isang employment agency bago maitalaga sa bahay ng mga akusado.
Wala rin umanong iligal na pagkulong na naganap dahil importante sa isang kasambahay na manatili sa bahay ng kanyang amo.
Nauna na si QC RTC Branch 94 Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria na nag-isyu ng warrant of arrest at nag-atas na maglabas ng HDO laban sa mga Tanenglian na kaugnay naman sa kasong inihain ng isa ring dating kasambahay na si Aljane Bacanto.
Source:
Angie dela Cruz, Pilipino Star Ngayon
June 05, 2010
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=581326&publicationSubCategoryId=93
Sa 7-pahinang desisyon na ipinalabas noong Mayo 18, 2010 ni QC Regional Trial Court (QC RTC) Branch 102 Judge Ma. Lourdes Giron ipinag-utos nito ang pagpapalabas ng warrant of arrest at HDO laban sa mga Tanenglian matapos mabatid na may batayan ang inihaing limang kaso ni Sollano kaugnay ng paglabag sa Anti-Child Abuse Law (R.A. 7610).
Kabilang sa mga akusadong bababaan ng mga warrant sina Mariano, ang asawa nitong si Aleta, at mga anak na sina Favette at Maximilian.
“In sum, the allegations in the affidavit of the private complainant would reveal that there is more of an abuse or maltreatment committed by the accused against the former,” pahayag ni Judge Giron. Nagtakda ng P80,000 piyansa ang korte para sa bawat kasong naihain laban sa mga akusado.
Sa kabilang dako, ipinawalang-sala naman ni Judge Giron ang mga Tanenglian sa paglabag sa Anti-Trafficking of Persons, kidnapping at serious illegal detention—na pare-parehong hindi napipiyansahang kaso.
Ayon sa hukom hindi umano pinuwersa ng pamilya ang nagrereklamo na mamasukan sa kanila sapagkat nagmula ito sa isang employment agency bago maitalaga sa bahay ng mga akusado.
Wala rin umanong iligal na pagkulong na naganap dahil importante sa isang kasambahay na manatili sa bahay ng kanyang amo.
Nauna na si QC RTC Branch 94 Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria na nag-isyu ng warrant of arrest at nag-atas na maglabas ng HDO laban sa mga Tanenglian na kaugnay naman sa kasong inihain ng isa ring dating kasambahay na si Aljane Bacanto.
Source:
Angie dela Cruz, Pilipino Star Ngayon
June 05, 2010
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=581326&publicationSubCategoryId=93
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Arrest warrant, HDO for tycoon’s brother (People's Journal)
A QUEZON City court ordered the issuance of another warrant of arrest and hold departure order for the brother of tycoon Lucio Tan and his family in connection with the charges filed against them by their former housemaid.
Judge Ma. Lourdes Giron ordered the arrest of Mariano Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and their two children after finding probable cause to indict them for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law in five sets of cases pending against the accused.
“In sum, the allegations in the affidavit of the private complainant would reveal that there is more of an abuse or maltreatment committed by the accused against the former,” the judge said.
The case against the Tanenglians was filed by their ex-maid Mary Jane Sollano.
The court set a bail of P80,000 for the accused for each of the five charges filed against them.
However, Giron cleared the accused of the charges of violation of the Anti-Trafficking of Persons and for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, both non-bailable offenses.
The judge said there was no involuntary servitude committed by the accused since the complainant was first recruited by an employment agency and later deployed to the Tanenglian household.
The court added there was no illegal detention because it was necessary for the maid to stay at the house of the accused.
Last May 4, Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria issued an arrest warrant against the Tanenglians in connection with similar charges filed by Aljane Bacanto, another former maid of the accused.
In yesterday’s hearing, the accused filed a motion to quash the warrant of arrest and HDO issued against them.
Source:
Melnie Ragasa-Jimena, People's Journal
June 4, 2010
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/metro/11015-arrest-warrant-hdo-for-tycoons-brother.html
Judge Ma. Lourdes Giron ordered the arrest of Mariano Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and their two children after finding probable cause to indict them for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law in five sets of cases pending against the accused.
“In sum, the allegations in the affidavit of the private complainant would reveal that there is more of an abuse or maltreatment committed by the accused against the former,” the judge said.
The case against the Tanenglians was filed by their ex-maid Mary Jane Sollano.
The court set a bail of P80,000 for the accused for each of the five charges filed against them.
However, Giron cleared the accused of the charges of violation of the Anti-Trafficking of Persons and for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, both non-bailable offenses.
The judge said there was no involuntary servitude committed by the accused since the complainant was first recruited by an employment agency and later deployed to the Tanenglian household.
The court added there was no illegal detention because it was necessary for the maid to stay at the house of the accused.
Last May 4, Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria issued an arrest warrant against the Tanenglians in connection with similar charges filed by Aljane Bacanto, another former maid of the accused.
In yesterday’s hearing, the accused filed a motion to quash the warrant of arrest and HDO issued against them.
Source:
Melnie Ragasa-Jimena, People's Journal
June 4, 2010
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/metro/11015-arrest-warrant-hdo-for-tycoons-brother.html
Friday, June 4, 2010
New warrants, hold orders for tycoon's brod over child abuse raps (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
A Quezon City Judge has issued new hold departure orders and warrants for the arrest of Mariano Tanenglian, brother of businessman Lucio Tan, and his family in connection with the criminal case filed against them by a former maid.
Judge Lourdes Giron of Regional Trial Court Branch 102 ordered the arrest of Tanenglian, his wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximilian after finding probable cause that they violated the Anti-Child Abuse Law.
The court however cleared the accused of other charges for violation of the Anti-Trafficking of Persons, for kidnapping and for serious illegal detention.
“In sum, the allegations in the affidavit of the private complainant would reveal that there is more of an abuse or maltreatment committed by the accused against the former,” the court said.
The case before Giron was filed by their former househelp, Mary Jane Sollano, who alleged that her employers maltreated her in the five years that she worked for them, starting when she was still 13 years old.
The court set a bail of P80,000 for the accused for each of the eight counts of child abuse against them.
In clearing the Tanenglians of the other charges, Giron said there was no involuntary servitude committed by the accused as the complainant was recruited by an employment agency and later deployed to the Tanenglians.
The court also said there was no illegal detention because it was necessary for the maid to stay at the house of the accused.
The Tanenglians are also facing another case filed by another former housemaid, Aljane Bacanto, before Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria of RTC Branch 94.
Charges pending before Branch 94 are for nine counts of violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law, violation of Republic Act 9208 or Anti-Trafficking of Persons, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention.
The Tanenglians have filed a motion to quash the warrants of arrest and hold departure orders before Branch 94.
Judge Lourdes Giron of Regional Trial Court Branch 102 ordered the arrest of Tanenglian, his wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximilian after finding probable cause that they violated the Anti-Child Abuse Law.
The court however cleared the accused of other charges for violation of the Anti-Trafficking of Persons, for kidnapping and for serious illegal detention.
“In sum, the allegations in the affidavit of the private complainant would reveal that there is more of an abuse or maltreatment committed by the accused against the former,” the court said.
The case before Giron was filed by their former househelp, Mary Jane Sollano, who alleged that her employers maltreated her in the five years that she worked for them, starting when she was still 13 years old.
The court set a bail of P80,000 for the accused for each of the eight counts of child abuse against them.
In clearing the Tanenglians of the other charges, Giron said there was no involuntary servitude committed by the accused as the complainant was recruited by an employment agency and later deployed to the Tanenglians.
The court also said there was no illegal detention because it was necessary for the maid to stay at the house of the accused.
The Tanenglians are also facing another case filed by another former housemaid, Aljane Bacanto, before Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria of RTC Branch 94.
Charges pending before Branch 94 are for nine counts of violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law, violation of Republic Act 9208 or Anti-Trafficking of Persons, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention.
The Tanenglians have filed a motion to quash the warrants of arrest and hold departure orders before Branch 94.
Source:
Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted June 4, 2010
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20100604-273843/New-warrants-hold-orders-for-tycoons-brod-over-child-abuse-raps
Sunday, February 7, 2010
More child abuse raps vs Tanenglians raffled off
MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City regional trial court (RTC) has raffled off the seven counts of child abuse against businessman Mariano Tanenglian and his family in connection with the alleged maltreatment of one of their underage housemaids.
The case, which went to Quezon City RTC Branch 94 Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria, stemmed from a complaint filed by Aljane Bacanto, a former housemaid of the Tanenglians.
Bacanto alleged that Tanenglian; his wife, Aleta; and children Fayette and Maximillian abused her.
The Tanenglians have filed a motion to suspend the proceedings, according to the court calendar of cases.
Bacanto’s case is second to be filed against the Tanenglians after the case of another former helper, Mary Jane Sollano, was assigned to Branch 102 Judge Lourdes Giron.
Bacanto claimed she was 16 when she was first hired – with a monthly salary of P2,000 – in May 2006. She said she was allegedly maltreated by the family and was finally allowed to go home in January 2009 but without a salary.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) Task Force on Women and Children Protection earlier found probable cause against the Tanenglians and filed the child abuse case in court.
The DOJ recommended P80,000 bail for each count of child abuse as well as the filing of charges serious illegal detention and trafficking, which are non-bailable offenses.
Tanenglian’s lawyer, Raymund Quiroz, said they have asked the court to hold the issuance of the warrant of arrest on grounds that their motion for reconsideration is pending with the DOJ.
With the pending motion, the case should be in the preliminary investigation stage, not raffled off to a court, he added.
Quiroz said they pointed out in the motion for reconsideration the “inconsistencies” in the testimonies of the two housemaids. These inconsistent statements are the sole basis of the case against his clients, he added.
Source:
Reinir Padua
The Philippine Star
February 06, 2010
Retrieved from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=547067
The case, which went to Quezon City RTC Branch 94 Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria, stemmed from a complaint filed by Aljane Bacanto, a former housemaid of the Tanenglians.
Bacanto alleged that Tanenglian; his wife, Aleta; and children Fayette and Maximillian abused her.
The Tanenglians have filed a motion to suspend the proceedings, according to the court calendar of cases.
Bacanto’s case is second to be filed against the Tanenglians after the case of another former helper, Mary Jane Sollano, was assigned to Branch 102 Judge Lourdes Giron.
Bacanto claimed she was 16 when she was first hired – with a monthly salary of P2,000 – in May 2006. She said she was allegedly maltreated by the family and was finally allowed to go home in January 2009 but without a salary.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) Task Force on Women and Children Protection earlier found probable cause against the Tanenglians and filed the child abuse case in court.
The DOJ recommended P80,000 bail for each count of child abuse as well as the filing of charges serious illegal detention and trafficking, which are non-bailable offenses.
Tanenglian’s lawyer, Raymund Quiroz, said they have asked the court to hold the issuance of the warrant of arrest on grounds that their motion for reconsideration is pending with the DOJ.
With the pending motion, the case should be in the preliminary investigation stage, not raffled off to a court, he added.
Quiroz said they pointed out in the motion for reconsideration the “inconsistencies” in the testimonies of the two housemaids. These inconsistent statements are the sole basis of the case against his clients, he added.
Source:
Reinir Padua
The Philippine Star
February 06, 2010
Retrieved from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=547067
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Tycoon’s brother, kin face more child abuse charges
MANILA, Philippines--Charges of child abuse were formally filed anew against the family of the brother of tycoon Lucio Tan in a Quezon City court for allegedly maltreating a 16-year-old housemaid.
Facing criminal charges of child abuse or violation of Republic Act 7610 is businessman Mariano Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and children Fayette and Maximillian.
The seven counts of child abuse were formally filed last week in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court and were raffled off to Branch 94, presided by Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria.
Tria’s sala is a family court, thus parties other than the complainant and the accused are not allowed to inquire about the case.
A check with the court calendar of cases yesterday, however, revealed that the Tanenglians filed a motion to suspend the proceedings.
The seven counts, accompanied by a motion for consolidation, were based on a complaint by Aljane Bacanto, a former housemaid of the Tanenglians.
This is the second case to be filed against the Tanenglians; a the first case, based on a complaint by Mary Jane Sollano, has been assigned to Branch 102 under Judge Lourdes Giron.
Bacanto alleged that she was 16 years old when she was hired in 2006 with a monthly salary of P2,000.
The housemaid claimed that she was maltreated and made to work long hours. She added that she was sometimes deprived of food and was forced to eat dog food to survive.
In January 2009, Bacanto claimed she was allowed to go home after working for the family for two years and seven months, allegedly without a salary.
The Department of Justice’s Task Force on Women and Children Protection, in a resolution, found probable cause against the Tanenglians and filed the case in court.
In its resolution, the DOJ said there was probable cause to indict the Tanenglians based on Bacanto’s claims.
The family claimed Bacanto’s allegations were doubtful as these were general statements and not definite as to when the acts were supposedly committed.
Source:
Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:41:00 02/05/2010
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20100205-251541/Tycoons-brother-kin-face-more-child-abuse-charges
Facing criminal charges of child abuse or violation of Republic Act 7610 is businessman Mariano Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and children Fayette and Maximillian.
The seven counts of child abuse were formally filed last week in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court and were raffled off to Branch 94, presided by Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria.
Tria’s sala is a family court, thus parties other than the complainant and the accused are not allowed to inquire about the case.
A check with the court calendar of cases yesterday, however, revealed that the Tanenglians filed a motion to suspend the proceedings.
The seven counts, accompanied by a motion for consolidation, were based on a complaint by Aljane Bacanto, a former housemaid of the Tanenglians.
This is the second case to be filed against the Tanenglians; a the first case, based on a complaint by Mary Jane Sollano, has been assigned to Branch 102 under Judge Lourdes Giron.
Bacanto alleged that she was 16 years old when she was hired in 2006 with a monthly salary of P2,000.
The housemaid claimed that she was maltreated and made to work long hours. She added that she was sometimes deprived of food and was forced to eat dog food to survive.
In January 2009, Bacanto claimed she was allowed to go home after working for the family for two years and seven months, allegedly without a salary.
The Department of Justice’s Task Force on Women and Children Protection, in a resolution, found probable cause against the Tanenglians and filed the case in court.
In its resolution, the DOJ said there was probable cause to indict the Tanenglians based on Bacanto’s claims.
The family claimed Bacanto’s allegations were doubtful as these were general statements and not definite as to when the acts were supposedly committed.
Source:
Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:41:00 02/05/2010
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20100205-251541/Tycoons-brother-kin-face-more-child-abuse-charges
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Court asked to bar brod of Lucio Tan from leaving country
MANILA, Philippines—Prosecutors have asked a Quezon City court to bar the estranged brother of tycoon Lucio Tan from leaving the country while he and his family is facing trial for allegedly maltreating an underage maid.
In a two-page pleading, assistant city prosecutor Pedro Tresvalles asked Judge Lourdes Giron to issue a hold departure order against businessman Mariano Tanenglian in relation to the charges filed against him.
Giron, the presiding judge of of Regional Trial Court Branch 102, is hearing the 10 criminal cases against Tanenglian, his wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximilian for child abuse and serious illegal detention.
The case, which was based on the complaint of Tanenglian’s former housemaid Mary Jane Sollano, was raffled off to Branch 102, a family court as Sollano was a minor when she was first hired.
Branch 102, as a family court, disallows parties other than the complainant and the accused from inquiring about the case.
Tresvalles, in his motion for the issuance of a hold departure order, asked the court to direct immigration authorities to prevent any of the Tanenglians involved in the case from leaving the country.
“It is imperative that a hold departure order be issued directing the commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration to prevent the accused from leaving the country during the pendency of the instant case,” the assistant city prosecutor said.
Tresvalles filed the motion on January 22 or after the ten criminal cases were filed to Giron’s court.
He added that the motion “is not intended to delay the proceedings or infringe upon the accused’s right to travel but for the aforestated reasons.”
The cases against Tanenglian et al were formally filed in court last week after the Department of Justice said there was probable cause to charge them.
The DOJ earlier approved the filing of charges against Tanenglian, particularly for eight counts of child abuse, trafficking of persons and kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
A DOJ task force on women based the case on Sollano’s complaint, as she used to work as a housemaid at the Tanenglian household on Biak-na-Bato St., Quezon City.
She accused her former employers of maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide.
The DOJ said the Tanenglians allegedly maltreated their housemaid and prevented her from leaving the house since she was employed by the family in 2004 at the age of 13 years old.
The Quezon City Police District, the Commission on Human Rights, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development rescued the 19-year-old housemaid from the Tanenglian household in August 2009.
Source:
Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 29, 2010
Retrieved from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20100129-250152/Court_asked_to_bar_brod_of_Lucio_Tan_from_leaving_country
In a two-page pleading, assistant city prosecutor Pedro Tresvalles asked Judge Lourdes Giron to issue a hold departure order against businessman Mariano Tanenglian in relation to the charges filed against him.
Giron, the presiding judge of of Regional Trial Court Branch 102, is hearing the 10 criminal cases against Tanenglian, his wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximilian for child abuse and serious illegal detention.
The case, which was based on the complaint of Tanenglian’s former housemaid Mary Jane Sollano, was raffled off to Branch 102, a family court as Sollano was a minor when she was first hired.
Branch 102, as a family court, disallows parties other than the complainant and the accused from inquiring about the case.
Tresvalles, in his motion for the issuance of a hold departure order, asked the court to direct immigration authorities to prevent any of the Tanenglians involved in the case from leaving the country.
“It is imperative that a hold departure order be issued directing the commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration to prevent the accused from leaving the country during the pendency of the instant case,” the assistant city prosecutor said.
Tresvalles filed the motion on January 22 or after the ten criminal cases were filed to Giron’s court.
He added that the motion “is not intended to delay the proceedings or infringe upon the accused’s right to travel but for the aforestated reasons.”
The cases against Tanenglian et al were formally filed in court last week after the Department of Justice said there was probable cause to charge them.
The DOJ earlier approved the filing of charges against Tanenglian, particularly for eight counts of child abuse, trafficking of persons and kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
A DOJ task force on women based the case on Sollano’s complaint, as she used to work as a housemaid at the Tanenglian household on Biak-na-Bato St., Quezon City.
She accused her former employers of maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide.
The DOJ said the Tanenglians allegedly maltreated their housemaid and prevented her from leaving the house since she was employed by the family in 2004 at the age of 13 years old.
The Quezon City Police District, the Commission on Human Rights, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development rescued the 19-year-old housemaid from the Tanenglian household in August 2009.
Source:
Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 29, 2010
Retrieved from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20100129-250152/Court_asked_to_bar_brod_of_Lucio_Tan_from_leaving_country
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Another case lodged vs Tanenglian
The Department of Justice approved the other day another criminal case against Mariano Tanenglian, brother of business tycoon Lucio Tan, and his wife and two children in connection with the complaint of another housemaid for alleged abuse and illegal detention.
In a 10-page resolution approved by chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno, the DOJ said it has found probable cause in the complaint of 19-year-old Aljane Bacanto against Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and children Maximillian and Fayette and approved the filing in court of charges of kidnapping, serious illegal detention, violation of (R.A 9201) Anti-Trafficking in Persons Acts and nine counts of child abuse or violation of R.A 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse Exploitation and Discrimination Act) against them.
Preliminary investigation of the department’s Task Force on Women and Children Protection gave weight to the testimony of complainant Bacanto in approving the child abuse charges against the Tanenglians.
The DOJ has found that Bacanto was only 16 years old when employed by the Tanenglians and then suffered “cruelty, physical abuse from the hands of respondents and had been subjected to conditions prejudicial to her normal development as a child” during her employment from May 2006 up to Jan. last year.
In her complaint filed at the DOJ on Sept. 8 last year, Bacanto recounted her ordeal at the residence of the Tanenglians in Barangay Siena in Quezon City. She said she was not allowed to go out- not even once- during her stay in the house of respondents. Bacanto alleged that she was not allowed to call anybody outside the house. She said she was only allowed to write letters to her family in Tacloban, but upon dictation of Fayette who told her never to tell her parents of her never to tell her parents of her situation. She said her former employers made her” a slave without salary and enough food”.
She revealed that she was only given food whenever her employers were satisfied with her job. She said the refrigerators in the house were padlocked and that there were many instances when she was not able to eat for three consecutive days.
Deprivation
This deprivation of food prompted the maids to try to steal food. But she said they were caught stealing several times and were harshly punished by their bosses. She said she was mauled several times by Aleta, Fayette and Maximillian. She said she was even forced to eat dog food just to survive.
Submitted with the complaint were affidavits of representatives of police, Commission on Human Rights and Department Social Welfare and Development and other persons present during the rescue of the housemaid. The DOJ said it has also found merit in the human trafficking charges, citing the existence of an important aspect of the crime slavery.
“(Bacanto’s) employment was with the intention to enslave and to extract force labor service from the complainant. These intentions are inferred from the acts of respondents when they, in fact, detained complainant from the time she was employed and subjected her to incredibly long hours of work for two years and seven months without salary and under constant conditions of cruelty, maltreatment and threat,” the resolution stated.
Kidnapping, serious illegal detention
The DOJ added that all elements of kidnapping and serious illegal detention especially illegal deprivation of liberty by private individual for over five days- are present in the case of Bacanto.
“Respondents who are private individuals illegally deprived complainant of her liberty by not allowing her to leave their premises from the time of her employment on May 2006 p to January 2009 coupled with threat that if she made an attempt to leave, something of great harm will happen to her. This detention, needless to state, is a deprivation of complainant’s liberty” it explained.
However, the DOJ junked he charges of frustrated homicide against the Tanenglians. The camp of Tanenglian has already downplayed the allegations of the housemaid as “part of a bigger picture.”
Tanenglian’s lawyer, Raymund Quiroz has questioned Bacanto’s testimony: “If the maid (Bacanto) was able to go home to her province last February (last year) then how can she claim that she was being detained? And how come this story is only surfacing now?”
“As we all know somebody is trying to stop our client from testifying at the Sandiganbayan,” he added, apparently referring to the case against Tan where Tanenglian is reported planning to testify for the prosecution.
Still, Quiroz said they would answer all the charges once they receive a copy of the complaint.
Source:
The Philippine Star (Page 18)
January 22, 2010
In a 10-page resolution approved by chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno, the DOJ said it has found probable cause in the complaint of 19-year-old Aljane Bacanto against Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and children Maximillian and Fayette and approved the filing in court of charges of kidnapping, serious illegal detention, violation of (R.A 9201) Anti-Trafficking in Persons Acts and nine counts of child abuse or violation of R.A 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse Exploitation and Discrimination Act) against them.
Preliminary investigation of the department’s Task Force on Women and Children Protection gave weight to the testimony of complainant Bacanto in approving the child abuse charges against the Tanenglians.
The DOJ has found that Bacanto was only 16 years old when employed by the Tanenglians and then suffered “cruelty, physical abuse from the hands of respondents and had been subjected to conditions prejudicial to her normal development as a child” during her employment from May 2006 up to Jan. last year.
In her complaint filed at the DOJ on Sept. 8 last year, Bacanto recounted her ordeal at the residence of the Tanenglians in Barangay Siena in Quezon City. She said she was not allowed to go out- not even once- during her stay in the house of respondents. Bacanto alleged that she was not allowed to call anybody outside the house. She said she was only allowed to write letters to her family in Tacloban, but upon dictation of Fayette who told her never to tell her parents of her never to tell her parents of her situation. She said her former employers made her” a slave without salary and enough food”.
She revealed that she was only given food whenever her employers were satisfied with her job. She said the refrigerators in the house were padlocked and that there were many instances when she was not able to eat for three consecutive days.
Deprivation
This deprivation of food prompted the maids to try to steal food. But she said they were caught stealing several times and were harshly punished by their bosses. She said she was mauled several times by Aleta, Fayette and Maximillian. She said she was even forced to eat dog food just to survive.
Submitted with the complaint were affidavits of representatives of police, Commission on Human Rights and Department Social Welfare and Development and other persons present during the rescue of the housemaid. The DOJ said it has also found merit in the human trafficking charges, citing the existence of an important aspect of the crime slavery.
“(Bacanto’s) employment was with the intention to enslave and to extract force labor service from the complainant. These intentions are inferred from the acts of respondents when they, in fact, detained complainant from the time she was employed and subjected her to incredibly long hours of work for two years and seven months without salary and under constant conditions of cruelty, maltreatment and threat,” the resolution stated.
Kidnapping, serious illegal detention
The DOJ added that all elements of kidnapping and serious illegal detention especially illegal deprivation of liberty by private individual for over five days- are present in the case of Bacanto.
“Respondents who are private individuals illegally deprived complainant of her liberty by not allowing her to leave their premises from the time of her employment on May 2006 p to January 2009 coupled with threat that if she made an attempt to leave, something of great harm will happen to her. This detention, needless to state, is a deprivation of complainant’s liberty” it explained.
However, the DOJ junked he charges of frustrated homicide against the Tanenglians. The camp of Tanenglian has already downplayed the allegations of the housemaid as “part of a bigger picture.”
Tanenglian’s lawyer, Raymund Quiroz has questioned Bacanto’s testimony: “If the maid (Bacanto) was able to go home to her province last February (last year) then how can she claim that she was being detained? And how come this story is only surfacing now?”
“As we all know somebody is trying to stop our client from testifying at the Sandiganbayan,” he added, apparently referring to the case against Tan where Tanenglian is reported planning to testify for the prosecution.
Still, Quiroz said they would answer all the charges once they receive a copy of the complaint.
Source:
The Philippine Star (Page 18)
January 22, 2010
Tan brother, family face charges in Quezon City court
Charges have been filed in a Quezon City court against the brother of tycoon Lucio Tan for allegedly maltreating one of the housemaids under his employ.
Mariano Tanenglian is facing serious illegal detention and child abuse charges for allegedly hiring one of his housemaids when she was still a minor.
Also included in the charges were his wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximillian.
The cases filed in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, accompanied with a motion for consolidation, were raffled off to Regional Trial Court Branch 102 presided by Judge Lourdes Giron.
Branch 102, however, is a family court, thus the parties-other than the complainant and the accused are not allowed to inquire about the case, INQUIRER learned.
Another case against Tanenglian filed by justice department has yet to be filed as personnel of the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office said the criminal information had not yet been signed.
The Department of Justice earlier approved the filing of charges against Tanenglian, particularly for eight counts of persons and kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
A DOJ task force on women based the case on a complaint filed by Mary Jane Sollano, a housemaid formerly working at the Tanenglian household on Biak na Bato Street in Quezon City.
The housemaid had accused her former employers of maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide.
In a resolution last week, the DOJ found that the Tanenglians allegedly maltreated their housemaid and prevented her from leaving the house after she was employed by the family in 2004 at the age of 13.
The Tanenglians were charged in court this week with eight counts of violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act based on Sollano’s claim that she was physically maltreated and not allowed to communicate with her family.
The DOJ also charged the family with trafficking of persons and serious illegal detention of keeping Sollano in their home against her will, and for allegedly forcing her into working for her family.
The Quezon City Police District, Commission on Human Rights, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development rescued the housemaid from the Tanenglian household in August 2009.
Source:
Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
A20
January 23, 2010
Mariano Tanenglian is facing serious illegal detention and child abuse charges for allegedly hiring one of his housemaids when she was still a minor.
Also included in the charges were his wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximillian.
The cases filed in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, accompanied with a motion for consolidation, were raffled off to Regional Trial Court Branch 102 presided by Judge Lourdes Giron.
Branch 102, however, is a family court, thus the parties-other than the complainant and the accused are not allowed to inquire about the case, INQUIRER learned.
Another case against Tanenglian filed by justice department has yet to be filed as personnel of the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office said the criminal information had not yet been signed.
The Department of Justice earlier approved the filing of charges against Tanenglian, particularly for eight counts of persons and kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
A DOJ task force on women based the case on a complaint filed by Mary Jane Sollano, a housemaid formerly working at the Tanenglian household on Biak na Bato Street in Quezon City.
The housemaid had accused her former employers of maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide.
In a resolution last week, the DOJ found that the Tanenglians allegedly maltreated their housemaid and prevented her from leaving the house after she was employed by the family in 2004 at the age of 13.
The Tanenglians were charged in court this week with eight counts of violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act based on Sollano’s claim that she was physically maltreated and not allowed to communicate with her family.
The DOJ also charged the family with trafficking of persons and serious illegal detention of keeping Sollano in their home against her will, and for allegedly forcing her into working for her family.
The Quezon City Police District, Commission on Human Rights, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development rescued the housemaid from the Tanenglian household in August 2009.
Source:
Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
A20
January 23, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Tycoon's brother, family face charges in Quezon City court
MANILA, Philippines--Charges have been filed in a Quezon City court against the brother of tycoon Lucio Tan for allegedly maltreating one of the housemaids under his employ.
Mariano Tanenglian is facing serious illegal detention and child abuse charges for allegedly hiring one of his housemaids when she was still a minor.
Also included in the charges were his wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximilian.
The cases filed in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, accompanied with a motion for consolidation, were raffled off to Regional Trial Court Branch 102 presided by Judge Lourdes Giron.
Branch 102, however, is a family court, thus the parties—other than the complainant and the accused—
are not allowed to inquire about the case, Inquirer learned.
Another case against Tanenglian filed by justice department has yet to be filed as personnel of the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office said the criminal information had not yet been signed.
The Department of Justice earlier approved the filing of charges against Tanenglian, particularly for eight counts of child abuse, trafficking of persons and kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
A DOJ task force on women based the case on a complaint filed by Mary Jane Sollano, a housemaid formerly working at the Tanenglian household on Biak na Bato Street in Quezon City.
The housemaid had accused her former employers of maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide.
In a resolution last week, the DOJ found that the Tanenglians allegedly maltreated their housemaid and prevented her from leaving the house after she was employed by the family in 2004 at the age of 13.
The Tanenglians were charged in court this week with eight counts of violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act based on Sollano’s claim that she was physically maltreated and not allowed to communicate with her family.
The DOJ also charged the family with trafficking of persons and serious illegal detention for keeping Sollano in their home against her will, and for allegedly forcing her into working for the family.
The Quezon City Police District, Commission on Human Rights, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development rescued the housemaid from the Tanenglian household in August 2009.
Source
Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 22, 2010
Retrieved from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20100122-248907/Tycoons-brother-family-face-charges-in-Quezon-City-court
Mariano Tanenglian is facing serious illegal detention and child abuse charges for allegedly hiring one of his housemaids when she was still a minor.
Also included in the charges were his wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximilian.
The cases filed in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, accompanied with a motion for consolidation, were raffled off to Regional Trial Court Branch 102 presided by Judge Lourdes Giron.
Branch 102, however, is a family court, thus the parties—other than the complainant and the accused—
are not allowed to inquire about the case, Inquirer learned.
Another case against Tanenglian filed by justice department has yet to be filed as personnel of the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office said the criminal information had not yet been signed.
The Department of Justice earlier approved the filing of charges against Tanenglian, particularly for eight counts of child abuse, trafficking of persons and kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
A DOJ task force on women based the case on a complaint filed by Mary Jane Sollano, a housemaid formerly working at the Tanenglian household on Biak na Bato Street in Quezon City.
The housemaid had accused her former employers of maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide.
In a resolution last week, the DOJ found that the Tanenglians allegedly maltreated their housemaid and prevented her from leaving the house after she was employed by the family in 2004 at the age of 13.
The Tanenglians were charged in court this week with eight counts of violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act based on Sollano’s claim that she was physically maltreated and not allowed to communicate with her family.
The DOJ also charged the family with trafficking of persons and serious illegal detention for keeping Sollano in their home against her will, and for allegedly forcing her into working for the family.
The Quezon City Police District, Commission on Human Rights, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development rescued the housemaid from the Tanenglian household in August 2009.
Source
Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 22, 2010
Retrieved from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20100122-248907/Tycoons-brother-family-face-charges-in-Quezon-City-court
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wealthy businessman charged anew for maltreating maid
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of a separate criminal charge before the trial court against wealthy businessman Mariano Tanenglian, his wife, and two children for allegedly maltreating a housemaid.
Earlier, the DOJ recommended the criminal prosecution of the Tanenglians based on the complaint filed by another housemaid, Mary Jane Sollano.
In a 10-page resolution signed by Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno, the DOJ found merit in the complaint filed by Aljane Bacanto, a resident of Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, who accused her employers of alleged maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide.
Bacanto worked for the Tanenglians as a housemaid from 2006 until 2009 and was the one who helped authorities in rescuing Sollano from the accused on August 10, 2009.
Charges of violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act; Republic Act No. 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons of 2003; kidnapping and serious illegal detention under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code will be filed against the Tanenglians.
“In this case, respondents admitted that they received and employed complainant as their domestic servant. Such receipt and employment was with the intention to enslave and to extract labor or service from the complainant,” the DOJ said.
“Respondents treated complainant not as a human being, but an object which they own, thereby debasing and stripping her of her dignity as a person,” the Justice department added.
Aside from Mariano, the charges were also filed against his wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximilian.
In her complaint-affidavit, Bacanto recounted that she started working with the Tanenglians when she was 16 years old and was allowed only to go home after three years.
During her three-year stay with the Tanenglians, Bacanto claimed she and the other housemaids were not allowed to go out, use the phone and other facilities of the house.
Bacanto added that although she was allowed to write letters to her family, the accused would dictate what she told in her letters.
She also said the Tanenglians would beat them up whenever they were caught getting food or using a cellular phone or radio.
Source:
DateLine Philippines
Posted on January 20, 2010
Retrieved from http://dateline.ph/?p=5128
Earlier, the DOJ recommended the criminal prosecution of the Tanenglians based on the complaint filed by another housemaid, Mary Jane Sollano.
In a 10-page resolution signed by Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno, the DOJ found merit in the complaint filed by Aljane Bacanto, a resident of Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, who accused her employers of alleged maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide.
Bacanto worked for the Tanenglians as a housemaid from 2006 until 2009 and was the one who helped authorities in rescuing Sollano from the accused on August 10, 2009.
Charges of violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act; Republic Act No. 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons of 2003; kidnapping and serious illegal detention under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code will be filed against the Tanenglians.
“In this case, respondents admitted that they received and employed complainant as their domestic servant. Such receipt and employment was with the intention to enslave and to extract labor or service from the complainant,” the DOJ said.
“Respondents treated complainant not as a human being, but an object which they own, thereby debasing and stripping her of her dignity as a person,” the Justice department added.
Aside from Mariano, the charges were also filed against his wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximilian.
In her complaint-affidavit, Bacanto recounted that she started working with the Tanenglians when she was 16 years old and was allowed only to go home after three years.
During her three-year stay with the Tanenglians, Bacanto claimed she and the other housemaids were not allowed to go out, use the phone and other facilities of the house.
Bacanto added that although she was allowed to write letters to her family, the accused would dictate what she told in her letters.
She also said the Tanenglians would beat them up whenever they were caught getting food or using a cellular phone or radio.
Source:
DateLine Philippines
Posted on January 20, 2010
Retrieved from http://dateline.ph/?p=5128
Child abuse, kidnap charges to be filed vs brother of business tycoon
MANILA, Philippines—State prosecutors approved another set of criminal charges against Mariano Tanenglian, his wife and two children in connection with allegations of physical and verbal abuse of former members of their household.
Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño has approved the resolution of prosecution attorney Xerxes Garcia recommending the filing of criminal charges of child abuse and kidnapping with serious illegal detention against Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and children Maximillian and Fayette as alleged by former maid Aljane Bacanto.
Tanenglian is a brother of tycoon Lucio Tan. They are estranged for personal and business reasons. Tanenglian has offered to testify against Tan in cases filed against him by the Presidential Commission on Good Government.
Bacanto was only 16 years old when she started to work for the Tanenglians at their home in Quezon City.
“Respondents who are private individuals illegally deprived complainant of her liberty by not allowing her to leave their premises from the time of her employment... with a threat if she made an attempt to leave, something of great harm will happen to her,” the DOJ resolution read.
“This detention, needless to state, is deprivation of the complainant's liberty," it added.
The allegations in connection with Bacanto’s case are the second set of charges that the DOJ has filed against the Tanenglians. State prosecutors earlier this month filed similar raps against the family based on the complaint of another maid, Mary Jane Sollano.
Bacanto alleged that she and Sollano were prevented by the family from leaving the house and were threatened with harm if they did.
They alleged that they were made to work very early in the morning until 1 a.m. the following day. They also alleged that they were deprived of food for days.
Because of hunger, Bacanto and Sollano took food without the family’s knowledge and even partook of dog food.
When they were caught, Aleta and Maximilian allegedly subjected them to “inhuman punishments” such as beating, pouring hot water on their hands, slamming their heads on the wall and hitting their mouths with thick slippers.
Bacanto alleged that on Christmas Day in 2007, Fayette locked them inside the kitchen and hit their behind with an iron chain after she and Sollano burned the rice that they were cooking.
Fayette, Bacanto said, even threw some rice on the floor and made them lick the food off the floor.
“(Bacanto) also stressed that Mariano was aware of these inhuman treatments she and Mary Jane received from his family members but opted to be unmindful of their welfare,” the resolution read.
Source:
Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted January 20, 2010
Retrieved from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20100120-248451/Child-abuse-kidnap-charges-to-be-filed-vs-brother-of-business-tycoon
Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño has approved the resolution of prosecution attorney Xerxes Garcia recommending the filing of criminal charges of child abuse and kidnapping with serious illegal detention against Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and children Maximillian and Fayette as alleged by former maid Aljane Bacanto.
Tanenglian is a brother of tycoon Lucio Tan. They are estranged for personal and business reasons. Tanenglian has offered to testify against Tan in cases filed against him by the Presidential Commission on Good Government.
Bacanto was only 16 years old when she started to work for the Tanenglians at their home in Quezon City.
“Respondents who are private individuals illegally deprived complainant of her liberty by not allowing her to leave their premises from the time of her employment... with a threat if she made an attempt to leave, something of great harm will happen to her,” the DOJ resolution read.
“This detention, needless to state, is deprivation of the complainant's liberty," it added.
The allegations in connection with Bacanto’s case are the second set of charges that the DOJ has filed against the Tanenglians. State prosecutors earlier this month filed similar raps against the family based on the complaint of another maid, Mary Jane Sollano.
Bacanto alleged that she and Sollano were prevented by the family from leaving the house and were threatened with harm if they did.
They alleged that they were made to work very early in the morning until 1 a.m. the following day. They also alleged that they were deprived of food for days.
Because of hunger, Bacanto and Sollano took food without the family’s knowledge and even partook of dog food.
When they were caught, Aleta and Maximilian allegedly subjected them to “inhuman punishments” such as beating, pouring hot water on their hands, slamming their heads on the wall and hitting their mouths with thick slippers.
Bacanto alleged that on Christmas Day in 2007, Fayette locked them inside the kitchen and hit their behind with an iron chain after she and Sollano burned the rice that they were cooking.
Fayette, Bacanto said, even threw some rice on the floor and made them lick the food off the floor.
“(Bacanto) also stressed that Mariano was aware of these inhuman treatments she and Mary Jane received from his family members but opted to be unmindful of their welfare,” the resolution read.
Source:
Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted January 20, 2010
Retrieved from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20100120-248451/Child-abuse-kidnap-charges-to-be-filed-vs-brother-of-business-tycoon
Lucio Tan’s bro faces new raps
ANOTHER criminal case has been filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the businessman Mariano Tanenglian, his wife, and two children in connection with a slew of criminal complaints filed by a housemaid.
Tanenglian is the estranged brother of tycoon Lucio Tan.
Click here for stories and updates on the Sinulog 2010 Festival.
In a 10-page resolution, the DOJ Task Force on Women and Children found probable cause against Tanenglian, wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximilian for nine counts of child abuse, human trafficking, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention charges filed by Aljane Bacanto.
State prosecutors gave weight to the direct and positive testimony of Bacanto, who testified that she was only 16 when employed by the Tanenglians at their residence in Quezon City.
The DOJ panel found merit in the human trafficking charges, citing the existence of an important aspect of the crime – slavery.
“(Bacanto’s) Employment was with the intention to enslave and to extract force labor/service from the complainant. These intentions are inferred from the acts of respondents when they, in fact, detained complainant from the time she was employed and subjected her to incredibly long hours of work for 2 years and 7 months without salary and under constant conditions of cruelty, maltreatment and threat,” the resolution stated.
On the other hand, the respondents are also liable for kidnapping and serious illegal detention when they deprived Bacanto of liberty for over five days.
“Respondents who are private individuals illegally deprived complainant of her liberty by not allowing her to leave their premises from the time of her employment on May 2006 up to Jan. 2009 coupled with threat that if she made an attempt to leave, something of great harm will happen to her. This detention, needless to state, is a deprivation of complainant’s liberty,” the panel said.
But the DOJ junked the charges of frustrated homicide against the Tanenglians.
Bacanto said that during her three-year stay at the Tanenglians, she suffered extreme cruelty and physical abuse from the respondents and had been subjected to conditions prejudicial to her normal development as a child.
She was employed from May 2006 up to January last year when she was rescued by social workers and law enforcers from the Tanenglian household.
In her complaint, Bacanto said that ever since she came to live with them, the Tanenglians prohibited her from going out of the house, or call anybody on the phone.
She said she was only allowed to write letters to her family in Tacloban, but upon dictation of Fayette who told her never to tell her parents of her situation.
On top of that, she never received any salary from the respondents, nor were she and the other housemaids ever fed enough food.
She revealed that she was only given food whenever her employers were satisfied with her job. She said the refrigerators in the house were padlocked and that there were many instances when she was not able to eat in three consecutive days.
This deprivation of food prompted the maids to try to steal food. But she said that once they were caught stealing several times, they were severely punished and mauled by their employers. At one point, she said that she was forced to eat dog food to survive.
Last week, the DOJ initiated the filing of similar criminal charges against the Tanenglians over the complaint of the first maid, Mary Jane Sollano, who was rescued by authorities in August last year.
Bacanto’s testimony supported that of Sollano. She was the one who reported their ordeal to the family of Sollano after she left Tanenglian’s house, which led to the rescue of the latter.
The DOJ is investigating a similar complaint filed by a third housemaid, Gina Renacia.
Source:
Sun.Star Manila
January 20, 2010
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/lucio-tan%E2%80%99s-bro-faces-new-raps
Tanenglian is the estranged brother of tycoon Lucio Tan.
Click here for stories and updates on the Sinulog 2010 Festival.
In a 10-page resolution, the DOJ Task Force on Women and Children found probable cause against Tanenglian, wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximilian for nine counts of child abuse, human trafficking, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention charges filed by Aljane Bacanto.
State prosecutors gave weight to the direct and positive testimony of Bacanto, who testified that she was only 16 when employed by the Tanenglians at their residence in Quezon City.
The DOJ panel found merit in the human trafficking charges, citing the existence of an important aspect of the crime – slavery.
“(Bacanto’s) Employment was with the intention to enslave and to extract force labor/service from the complainant. These intentions are inferred from the acts of respondents when they, in fact, detained complainant from the time she was employed and subjected her to incredibly long hours of work for 2 years and 7 months without salary and under constant conditions of cruelty, maltreatment and threat,” the resolution stated.
On the other hand, the respondents are also liable for kidnapping and serious illegal detention when they deprived Bacanto of liberty for over five days.
“Respondents who are private individuals illegally deprived complainant of her liberty by not allowing her to leave their premises from the time of her employment on May 2006 up to Jan. 2009 coupled with threat that if she made an attempt to leave, something of great harm will happen to her. This detention, needless to state, is a deprivation of complainant’s liberty,” the panel said.
But the DOJ junked the charges of frustrated homicide against the Tanenglians.
Bacanto said that during her three-year stay at the Tanenglians, she suffered extreme cruelty and physical abuse from the respondents and had been subjected to conditions prejudicial to her normal development as a child.
She was employed from May 2006 up to January last year when she was rescued by social workers and law enforcers from the Tanenglian household.
In her complaint, Bacanto said that ever since she came to live with them, the Tanenglians prohibited her from going out of the house, or call anybody on the phone.
She said she was only allowed to write letters to her family in Tacloban, but upon dictation of Fayette who told her never to tell her parents of her situation.
On top of that, she never received any salary from the respondents, nor were she and the other housemaids ever fed enough food.
She revealed that she was only given food whenever her employers were satisfied with her job. She said the refrigerators in the house were padlocked and that there were many instances when she was not able to eat in three consecutive days.
This deprivation of food prompted the maids to try to steal food. But she said that once they were caught stealing several times, they were severely punished and mauled by their employers. At one point, she said that she was forced to eat dog food to survive.
Last week, the DOJ initiated the filing of similar criminal charges against the Tanenglians over the complaint of the first maid, Mary Jane Sollano, who was rescued by authorities in August last year.
Bacanto’s testimony supported that of Sollano. She was the one who reported their ordeal to the family of Sollano after she left Tanenglian’s house, which led to the rescue of the latter.
The DOJ is investigating a similar complaint filed by a third housemaid, Gina Renacia.
Source:
Sun.Star Manila
January 20, 2010
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/lucio-tan%E2%80%99s-bro-faces-new-raps