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

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

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

Bilyonaryong Tsinoy pinakakasuhan na ng DOJ

Inirekomenda na ng Department of Justice (DOJ) ang pagsasampa ng kasong kidnapping, serious illegal detention, 8 counts ng kasong child abuse at anti-trafficking laban sa negosyanteng si Mariano Tanenglian, asawa niti at dalawang anak sa Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Nag-ugat ang kaso matapos nakasuhan ang pamilya Tanenglian ng kanilang dating katulong na si Mary Jane Sollano, 19, nang pagmamaltrato, serious illegal detention, slavery at frustrated homicide.

Batay sa 17 pahinang resolusyon ng panel na inaprubahan ni Chief State prosecutor Jovencito Zuno sinabi nito na 8 bilang ng child abuse at kasong kidnapping ang isinampa sa pamilya dahil na rin sa napatunayan na 13-anyos pa lamang si Sollano nang irecruit ito ng pamilya at gawing katulong sa kanilang bahay sa #30 Biak na Bato st. Quezon City, mula umano nang mamasukan ang biktima ay pinayagan na makalabas ng bahay at makipag-ugnayan sa kanyang pamilya.


Maliban ditto ay nakatanggap din ng pisikal na pang-aabso ang biktima, hindi pagbibigay ng tamang pagkain gayundin ay may insidente na kinuhaan ito ng hubo’t hubad nang mahuli na nang-uumit ng pagkain mula sa refrigerator.

Kinatigan din ng DOJ ang Testimonya ng ama ng biktima na nagsabing hidi niya nakita ang anak simila taong 2004 at nalaman lamang ang kinasasapitan ng anak nag ipagtapat ng isa pang katulong ng pamilya Tanenglian na nakatakas ang ginagawang pagmamaltrato sa biktima. Kasunod na nito ang ginawang pagrerescue kay Sollano.

Gemma Amargo-Garcia
Pilipino Star Ngayon (Page 3)
Enero 15, 2010

DOJ pushes case vs Tanenglians

THE Department of Justice has recommended the filing in court of eight counts of child abuse, kidnapping and serious illegal detention against businessman Mariano Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and their two children based on the complaint against them by their former housemaid Mary Jane Sollano.

The DOJ Task Force on Women and Children Protection also found probable cause against the Tanenglians to charge them with violation of the anti-trafficking in persons law.

Prosecutors said Sollano, 19, was able to establish that respondents employed her as their housemaid for more than five years, as evidenced by a "contract," with an intention to extract forced labor or involuntary servitude from her for five years without salary and under constant condition of harm and threat.

"Within this period, complainant suffered cruelty, physical abuse from the hands of respondents, and had been subjected to a condition prejudicial to her normal development as a child, in violation of RA 7610," the DOJ said, referring to the anti-child abuse law.

Sollano was only 13 when she was recruited from Zamboanga del Sur to work as a housemaid for the Tanenglians in June 2004. She was rescued by police and social workers on Aug. 10, 2009. Sollano said she was subjected to physical and sexual abuse by the Tanenglians.

Evangeline C. de Vera
Malaya
January 15, 2010
Retrieved from http://www.malaya.com.ph/01152010/metroroundup.html

Criminal raps filed vs Lucio Tan’s bro

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of criminal charges against businessman Mariano Tanenglian, his wife Aleta, and their two children for eight counts of child abuse, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention filed by their household help.

Tanenglian is an estranged brother of tycoon Lucio Tan.

In a 17-page resolution, the DOJ Task Force on Women and Children Protection also found probable cause against the Tanenglians to charge them with violations of the anti-trafficking in persons law.

The criminal charges were filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court based on the complaint filed by Mary Jane Sollano, 19, who accused her employers of alleged maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and even frustrated homicide.

“The uncontroverted accounts of witnesses that for more than five years they have no knowledge of complainant’s whereabouts, that they have to rescue her from the respondents with the help of DSWD, CHR and QCPD, the fact that they were compelled to sign the documents presented to them by respondents’ lawyer as a condition before complainant could be released, and the fact that they received a big amount of money (P137,000) from the respondents bolster the findings that probable cause exist that crimes under RA 7610 and 9208 were committed by the respondents,” the task force said.

Prosecutors said Sollano was able to establish that respondents received and employed her as their housemaid for a period of more than five years, as evidenced by a “contract,” with an intention to extract forced labor or involuntary servitude from her for five years without salary and under constant condition of harm and threat.

“Within this period, complainant suffered cruelty, physical abuse from the hands of respondents, and had been subjected to a condition prejudicial to her normal development as a child, in violation of RA 7610,” the DOJ said, referring to the anti-child abuse law.

Based on records, Sollano was only 13 years old when she was recruited from her hometown in Zamboanga del Sur to work as a housemaid in the Tanenglian residence in June 2004. She was rescued by police and social workers on August 10, 2009.

According to Sollano, she endured a lot of hardships, even physical and sexual abuse, in the hands of her employers.

She said upon her arrival at the Tanenglian residence, she was locked up, not allowed to communicate with relatives, and was kicked, slapped, and suffered various physical abuses even for minor mistakes.

The DOJ gave credit to the claims of Sollano that at one time Aleta and daughter Fayette allegedly took nude pictures of her while hitting her with an iron bar and thick slippers.

In another instance, Fayette allegedly poured hot water on Sollano’s hands when she was caught stealing food, while son Maximillian allegedly chained her hands and neck to the point of choking her when she was caught getting food from the refrigerator.

Sollano claimed she was forced to steal food because she was deprived of food for several days.

As regards the case of trafficking, the Task Force said that respondents admitted receipt of Sollano and even presented a contract signed by Mariano showing that the complainant was employed as a housemaid.


Source:
Sun.Star Manila
January 14, 2010
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/criminal-raps-filed-vs-lucio-tan%E2%80%99s-bro

3rd maid files abuse raps vs Mariano Tan, family

A third housemaid has filed charges against businessman Mariano Tan and his family before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly abusing her.

Gina Renacia, 33, accused Tan; his wife, Aleta; and children Maximillian and Fayeete for supoosed “maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide.” The Philippine National Police (PNP) endored her complaint to the DOJ.

Renacia, according to the complaint, was 15 years old when Tan and his family employed her as a housemaid.

“In November 1992, victim Renacia… suffered physical and mental abused from the afore-named respondents thereby causing physical and emotional distress upon her person,” stated the complaint signed by Senior Police Officer 1 Florence Costanilla of the PNP Women’s Desk.

Renacia said she was allegedly beaten, forced to shave her head and slapped whenever she did something wrong. She also said that in November 1992, Aleta alleged pressed a hot iron against her back, and she had to be treated at the Philippine General Hospital.

Earlier this year, former housemaids Mary Jane Sollano, 18, and Aljane Bacanto, 19, separately filed similar complaints before the DOJ.

In her affidavit, Bacanto said she was allegedly not allowed to go out of the Tan residence ”not even once” in barangay Siena, Quezon City from May 2006 until she was given permission to go back to her province last February.
Just like Sollano, Bacanto said 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 Fayette reportedly told her what to write.

“They made me a slave, without a salary and enough food,” she said.
Bacanto said she was only given food whenever her employers were satisfied with her job. She said the refrigerators in the house were padlocked and there were many instances when she was not able to eat for three consecutives days.

She said she and her fellow maids were caught stealing food and were harshly punished. She said she was beaten several times by Aleta, Feyette and Maximillian. She said she was even forced to eat dog food just to survive.
Sollano, who was rescued last Aug. 10 after Bacanto told Sollano’s parents about her plight, told police she suffered “physical and mental abuses” at the hands of the Tan family since she started her employment in july 2004.
Sollano said she and other maids were allegedly “ not allowed to use the telephone or cellphone, talk to fellow house helpers, laugh, sit in their (family’s) chairs look outside the window, watch TV, eat at any time, sleep or rest before our tasks were completed, and read any material or write.”
She said she tried to escape by asking permission to go their home province of Zamboanga del Sur but her employers for bade her, sayin she had to finish her two year contract.

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

Sollona said Aleta and Feyette once brought her to a room took nude photos of her. ”When they were not yet satisfied, they would hit me with steel (pipes) or slippers, and threaten me that they would show my a nightclub owned by Ate Aleta’s Friend,” Sollano said.

She said Fayette once poured hot water on her hands after they caught her eating their food, and that they chained her hands and neck in such a way that she found it difficult to breathe.

Sollano’s alleged ordeal ended when she was rescued by Quezon City police officers and personnel from the Commission on Human Rights and the Department of Social Welfare and Development last Aug.10.
Sollano and her parents had a tearful reunion after five years without any contact.

When sought for a reaction, Tan’s camp said the Allegations were “part of a bigger picture.” Tan is the estranged brother of businessman Lucio Tan.
“As we all know somebody is trying to stop our clients from testifying at the Sandiganbayan,” Tan’s Lawyer, Raymund Quiroz, said. He added that they will answer all charges once they receive a copy of the complaint.

Edu Punay
The Philippine Star, Page 19
December 07, 2009

Tsinoy kinasuhan ng 1 pang maid

Isa pang inabusong katulong ng pamilya Tanenglian ang pormal ding nagharap ng reklamong maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery at frustrated homicide sa Department of Justice kahapon ng umaga.

Personal na naghain ng demanda ang biktimang si Aljane Bacanto, 19, tubong Leyte at namamasukan sa negosyanteng si Mariano Tanenglian, kapatid ni Lucio Tan; Aleta Tanenglian, maybahay ni Mariano at mga anak na sina Maximilian at Fayette na nagmaltrato at nanakit sa kanya.

Sa unang mga araw lang umano naging maayos ang tratos sa kanya hanggang sa lumabas na ang tunay na ugali ng pamilya Tanenglian kung saan nakaranas siya ng pagmamalupit at hindi makataong trato.

Kabilang sa pagmamalupit na ginawa sa kanya ng mga dating amo ang pagkukulong sa kanya sa kuwarto, hindi pinakakain ng maayos at binubugbog din siya ng mag-iina.

Una nang naghain ng mga kasong kriminal laban sa nasabing pamilya ang 18-anyos na si Mary Jane Sollano, tubong Bigong Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur, kaugnay sa pagmamaltrato, na naranasan sa loob umano ng limang taon mula Hunyo 9, 2004 nang siya’y 13 anyos pa lang hanggang Agosto 9, 2009.

Ilan pang respondents na hindi pinangalanan ang kasama sa inireklamo, bukod sa pamilya Tanenglian, na pawing residente ng no. 30 Biak na Bato corner Dapitan Sts., Sto. Domingo, Quezon City kung saan siya naging stay-in housemaid.

Natuldukan lang ang paghihirap ng biktima nang isa sa kasamahang katulong na nakatakas ay nagsumbong sa mga magulang ng biktima dahil sa pagkukulong sa kanya o hindi pinalalabas, hindi pinagagamit ng telepono o cellphone, hindi pinapanood ng telebisyon o kahit makipag-ugnayan sa magulang, hindi pinapakain at naisasalba lang ang sarili sa pamamagitan ng pagnanakaw niya (biktima) ng pagkain ng aso.

Bukod pa ito sa paglapastangan sa katawan ng biktima na madalas ay pinagtatrabaho nang nakahubad.

Binawlan din ang biktima na ‘tumawa’, umupo sa upuan ng mga amo, sumilip sa bintana, magbasa at magsulat.

Naranasan niya din ang sakalin, tadyakan sa katawan, iuntog sa pader sa kaunting pagkakamali sa trabaho kahit walang sweldo.

Nang magpaalam ay hindi pinayagan bagkus ay pinilit na pumirma sa bagong kontrata bilang katulong.

“Pinapasok ako nina Ate Aleta at Ate Fayette sa kuwarto, pinahuhubad ako ng damit pang-itaas, shorts, bra, panty, tapos kinukuhanan nila ako ng picture,” ayon sa salaysay ng biktima.

Nang magnakaw ng pagkain ng amo, nahuli umano siya at doon binuhusan ng mainit ang kamay at pati na rin ang pagtadyak sa katawan, sabunot, kinadena ang dalawang kamay patalikod at kinadena pati leeg.

Naging dahilan ito upang mai-rescue ang biktima s tulong ng Department of Social Welfare and Development, Commission on Human Rights at Laloma Police Station noong Agosto 10, 2009, dakong alas 11:30 ng umaga.

Source:
Remate
Setyembre 9, 2009
Page 5

Tan brother faces another abuse charge

Another former maid of the Mariano Tanenglian household has filed criminal charges against him and his immediate family for alleged maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide.

Aljane Bacanto, 19, filed a complaint against Tanenglian his wife Aleta and children Marvin and Fayette for the alleged maltreatment she suffered during her three years of being employed as a maid at the Tanenglian’s residence in Quezon City.

Bacanto told of instances of abuse such as when because of extreme hunger, she and a fellow maid had to eat dog food and were beaten up when they were caught.

Tanenglian is a brother of tycoon Lucio Tan with whom he has been at odds over personal and business matters.

Bacanto narrated how she and other maids were neither given food nor their just wages for the long hours of work they put in. She added that they weren’t allowed to go out of the house or talk to anyone on the phone.
The family, she said, would lock the house whenever the Tanenglians would leave.

Lawyer Raymund Quiros, legal counsel for the Tanenglians, said his client is the subject of an orchestrated move to put his client in a bad light.

Quiros, nonetheless, said his clients would be ready to answer all the allegations against them.

Source:
Philippine Daily Inquirer
September 9, 2009
Page A3

Tacloban teener files another complaint against Tanenglian, taipan Lucio Tan’s brother

Another former housemaid has filed criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against businessman Mariano Tanenglian, brother of Taipan Lucio Tan, and members of his family for alleged “maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide.”

Aljane Bacanto, 19, of Tacloban City, Samar filed the charges Tuesday through her counsel, lawyer Al Parreno, against Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and children Maximillian and Fayette.

Bacanto’s fellow maid, Mary Jane Sollano, 18, of Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur had earlier filed a similar complaint before the justice department against the Tanenglian family.

In her affidavit, Bacanto recounted her ordeal at the residence of the Tanenglians in Barangay Siena in Quezon City from May 2006 until she was allowed to go back to their province in February.

“I was detained inside the house. For almost three years, I was never allowed to go out—not even once,” she recalled in Filipino.

Just like Sollano, 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 situation.

“They made me a slave without salary and enough food,” she claimed, adding there were many instances when she was not able to eat in three consecutive days.

Suffering their hunger, she said, forced her and the other maids to steal food.

According to Bacanto, they were caught stealing several times and were harshly punished by their bosses.

She claimed that she was even forced to eat dog food just to survive.

Bacanto’s testimony supported that of Sollano. She was the one who reported their ordeal to the family of Sollano after she left the Tanenglian’s residence, which led to the rescue of the latter.

Sollano was rescued on August 10 by combined elements of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Quezon City police from the Tanenglian’s residence.

Source:
The Manila Times
September 9, 2009
Page A7

Another maid sues Tanenglian

Another maid is suing Mariano Tanenglian and his family for abuse and other forms of maltreatment while working in the household since 2006 until she was allowed to leave last February.

Assisted by her lawyer Al Parreno, Aljane Bacanto, 19 years old, of Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, charged Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and children Maximillian and Fayette also for serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide.

Bacanto was responsible for the rescue from the Tanenglian residence in Siena, Quezon City, of colleague, Mary Jane Sollano, who has filed a similar criminal complaint against the Tanenglian family last Aug. 27 before the Justice Department.

“I was detained inside the house. For almost three years, I was never allowed to go out—not even once,” she said, in Filipino.

While she was allowed to write her family in Tacloban, Bacanto said Fayette warned her against talking about her situation at work.

“They made me a slave without salary and enough food.”

Bacanto said this deprivation of food made them steal food and when caught were mauled by Aleta, Fayette and Maximillian.

Sollano, who had been working for the Tanenglians since 2004, was rescued last Aug. 10 by the Quezon City policemen along with staff from the Commission on Human Rights and the Social Welfare Department.

Fearing she was dead, her parents learned of their daughter’s whereabouts only through Bacanto.

The father then sought the help of friends and private lawyers who raised Sollano’s complaint before the commission.

In her affidavit citing unusual punishment, Sollano said Fayette put her hands in scalding water when found eating, including instances of sexual abuse.

“They would hit me... and threaten me that they would show my nude photos to other people or bring me to a nightclub owned by ate Aleta’s friend.”
Sollano alleged that Fayette and Aleta once brought her to a room to take her pictures without her clothes on.

She said her two-year contract ended in 2006 but was made to sign another one without knowing that it covered an additional two-year period.

Source:
Manila Standard Today
September 9, 2009
Page A3

1 pang maid nagreklamo vs amo

Upang pagtibayin umano ang patung-patong na kaso laban sa negosyanteng si Mariano Tanenglian, naghain na rin ng hiwalay na kaso ng pangmamaltrato ang isa pang kasambahay ng pamilya sa Department of Justice (DOJ).

Sa reklamo ni Aljane Bacanto, 19-anyos, tubong Leyte, sinabi nito na lumantad na rin sya at walang takot na haharapin ang dating mga amo upang makakuha ng hustisya mula sa pagmamalupit na naranasan nito, aniya, sa pagmamaltrato na kanyang natanggap sa pamilya ay nagka-trauma na ito at takot nang mamasukan muli.

Sa kanyang salaysay, sinabi nito na namasukan siya sa pamilya Tanenglian noong Mayo 2006, noong una ay naging maayos umano ang pakikitungo sa kanya ng buong pamilya subalit nang lumipas na ang ilang araw ay saka niya nakita at naranasan ang pagmamalupit ng mga ito.

Kabilang sa pagmamalupit na ginawa umano ng dating mga amo ay ikinukulong sa kuwarto, hindi pinapakain ng maayos, hindi pinaaalis ng bahay, bawal ang day-off at sinasaktan sa konting pagkakamali.

Kasong maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery at frustrated homicide ang inihain ni Bacanto sa DOJ laban sa pamilya Tanenglian.

Matatandaan na una nang naghain ng parehas na reklamo sa DOJ ang isa pang kasambahay ng pamilya Tanenglian na si Mary Jane Solano Dequit, tubong Bigong Tigbao, Zamboanga Del Sur.

Source:
Abante
Setyembre 9, 2009
Page 3

Another maid files criminal charges vs Mariano Tan

Another housemaid of Mariano Tanenglian, estranged brother of business tycoon Lucio Tan, filed criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday against her former employer.

Accompanied by lawyer Al Parreno, 19-year-old Aljane Bacanto sought the indictment of Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and children Maximillian and Fayette for supposed “maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide.” Bacanto’s fellow maid who was earlier rescued by authorities, Mary Jane Sollano, already filed at the DOJ a similar complaint against the family last Aug. 27 alleging exactly the same violations.

In her affidavit, Bacanto recounted her ordeal at the residence of the Tanenglian in Barangay Siena in Quezon City from May 2006 until she was allowed to go back to their province last February. “I was detained inside the house. For almost three years, I was never allowed to go out – not even once,” she recalled in Filipino.

Just like Sollano, 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 situation. “They made me a slave without salary and enough food,” she alleged.
Bacanto 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. 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.

In response, the camp of Tanenglian downplayed the allegation as “part of a bigger picture.”

“I think it’s obvious that someone big instigated this action. If the maid (Bacanto) was able to go home to her province last February then how can she claim that she was being detained? And how come this story is only surfacing now?” Tanenglian’s lawyer Raymund Quiroz said in a phone interview.

“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 reportedly planning to testify for the prosecution. Still, Quiroz said they would answer all the charges once they receive a copy of the complaint.

Testimony
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.

It can be recalled that Sollano has earlier detailed how she suffered “physical and mental abuses” in the hands of the Tanenglian family from July 2004 up to Aug. 10 when she was rescued by authorities.

While inside the house of the Tanenglians, she said she and other house helpers were “not allowed to use the telephone or cell phone, talk to fellow house helpers, laugh, sit in their (family’s) chairs, look outside the window, watch TV, eat at any time, sleep or rest before our tasks were completed, and read any material or write.” Even on her first month, Sollano said she already had a taste of the family’s ill treatment. “I was not yet familiar with my job so Ate Aleta got mad and slapped me in the face many times. Since then, they would instantly hurt me for every small mistake I make,” she recalled in Filipino.

“In my five-year stay in their house, I was not allowed to go out. They even threatened me that they would do something bad if I ask for help from outside,” she claimed. She said she tried to escape by asking permission to go to their home province in Zamboanga del Sur but her employers would not allow her. She was told that she had to finish her two-year contract and to just endure the punishments.

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

Sollano admitted that there came a point when she could no longer bear her sufferings and pleaded her employer to let her go, but Aleta again denied her saying she still had debts to pay. “I could not do anything but to just follow (them),” she lamented. She recalled how she was given “too much punishment for small mistakes.”

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

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

Source:
The Philippine Star
September 9, 2009
Page 19

1 pang maid na minaltrato lumutang

Isa pang kasambahay ng bilyonaryong Tsinoy ang naghain ng reklamo sa Department of Justice (DOJ) kaugnay ng pagmamaltrato din sa kanya.

Sa inihaing reklamo ni Aljane Bacanto, 19, tubong Leyte, sinabi nito na nakaranas din siya ng pambubugbog sa pamilya ni Mariano Tanenglian.

Sa kanyang salaysay sinabi nito na namasukan siya sa pamilya Tanenglian noong 2006, noong una ay naging maayos umano ang pakikitungo sa kanya ng buong pamilya subalit nang lumipas na ang ilang araw ay saka niya nakita at naranasan ang pagmamalupit ng mga ito. Kabilang sa pagmamalupit na ginawa umano ng kanyang mga dating amo ay ang pagkukulong sa kanya sa kwarto at hindi pinapakain ng maayos.

Kasong maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery at frustrated homicide ang inihain ni Bacanto.

Matatandaan na una nang naghain ng parehas na reklamo sa DOJ ang isa pang kasambahay ng pamilya Tanenglian na itinago sa pangalang Beth, 18-anyos.
Si Beth ay una nang nasagip sa tahanan ng pamilya Tanenglian sa Brgy Siena Quezon City matapos na ipagbigay-alam ni Aljane sa pamilya nito ang nararanasang pagmamalupit.

Nakipagkoordina ang pamilya ni Beth sa mga awtoridad at isang operasyon ang inilunsad kung saan ito nasagip. Kapwa desidido ang dalawang biktimang katulong na ituloy ang kaso laban sa kanilang mga amo.

Source:
Pilipino Star Ngayon
Setyembre 9, 2009
Page 3

1 pang kasambahay naghain ng kaso vs negosyante

Upang pagtibayin umano ang mga kaso laban sa negosyanteng si Mariano Tanenglian, naghain na rin ng hiwalay na kaso ng pangmamaltrato ang isa pang kasambahay ng pamilya sa Department of Justice (DOJ).

Sa reklamo ni Aljane Bacanto, 19-anyos, tubong Leyte, sinabi nito na lumantad na rin siya at walang takot na haharapin ang dating mga amo upang makakuha ng hustisya mula sa pagmamalupit na naranasan nito sa pamilya kung saan ay nagka-trauma na ito at takot nang mamasukan muli.

Sa kanyang salaysay, sinabi nito, na namasukan siya sa pamilya Tanenglian noong Mayo 2006, noong una ay naging maayos umano ang pakikitungo sa kanya ng buong pamilya subalit nang lumipas na ang ilang araw ay saka niya nakita at naranasan ang pagmamalupit ng mga ito.

Kabilang sa pagmamalupit na ginawa umano ng kanyang mga dating amo ay ikinukulong siya sa kuwarto, hindi pinapakain ng maayos, hindi pinaaalis ng bahay, bawal ang day-off at madalas siyang pagbuhatan ng kamay sa kaunti lamang na pagkakamali.

Kasong maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery at frustrated homicide ang inihain ni Bacanto sa DOJ laban sa pamilya Tanenglian.

Source:
Abante Tonite
September 9, 2009
Page 3

Tanenglian kinasuhan ng isa pang kasambahay

Nagtungo kahapon sa Department of Justice (DOJ) ang isa pang kasambahay ng negosyanteng si Mariano Tanenglian, kapatid ng negosyanteng si Lucio Tan, at pormal na naghain ng reklamo laban sa umano’y pagmamaltrato sa kanila ng kanilang amo.

Batay sa inihaing reklamo ni Aljane Bacanto, 19, tubong Leyte, sinabi nito na nakaranas umano sila ng pagmamalupit at pambubugbog mula sa pamilya Tanenglian mula nang mamasukan noong 2006.

Noong una aniya ay naging maayos naman ang pakikitungo ng mga ito sa kanya ngunit sa paglipas ng mga araw ay nag-iba na umano ang pagtrato ng mga ito sa kanya.
Kabilang sa pagmamalupit na ginawa umano ng kanyang mga dating amo sa kanya ay ikinukulong sa kwarto, at hindi pinapakain ng maayos.

Kasong maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery at frustrated homicide ang inihain ni Bacanto laban sa pamilya Tanenglian.

Una nang naghain ng katulad na reklamo sa DOJ ang isa pang kasambahay na si Beth, 18, tubong Bigong Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur, at nagsampa ng kasong maltreatment, slavery, serious illegal detention at frustrated homicide laban sa pamilya Tanenglian.

Kabilang sa mga kinasuhan nito ay sina Mariano, asawa nitong si Aleta, at mga anak na si Maximilian at Fayette Tanenglian, na pawang mga residente ng No. 30 Biak na Bato corner Dapitan Sts. Brgy. Siena, Quezon City.

Source:
Police Files
September 9, 2009
Page 2

Another maid files slavery raps vs Chinoy billionaire

Another housemaid of Chinoy billionaire Mariano Tanenglian, brother of business tycoon Lucio Tan, yesterday filed slavery charges, among others, against her employers before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Aljane Bacanto, 19, filed charges of maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide against Tanenglian, his wife Aleta as well as children Maximillian and Fayette.

Bacanto’s fellow maid Mary Jane Sollano earlier filed similar charges also before the DOJ against the same respondents.

In her affidavit, Bacanto recounted her ordeal at the hands of the Tanenglians in Brgy. Siena, Quezon City, which she claimed started last May 2006 until she was allowed to go back to their province last February. “I was detained inside the house. For almost three years, I was not allowed to go out – not even once,” partly read her affidavit, written in Tagalog.

Bacanto echoed Sollano’s revelation that they were virtually cut “from the outside world” when they were not even allowed to call anybody outside of their employers’ house.
Yesterday’s complainant said she was only allowed to write letters to her family but upon dictation from Fayette who wanted her not to reveal her ordeal to her parents.

“They made me a slave without salary and enough food,” Bacanto claimed.
She said the refrigerators in the house were padlocked and there were occasions that they were not fed anything for three consecutive days. The maid disclosed that they were forced to steal food from the kitchen. When they were caught once, they were beaten black and blue by their employers, most notably Aleta, Fayette and Maximillian.

The complainant said she was even forced to eat dog food just to survive.
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.

Sollano earlier detailed how she suffered “physical and mental abuses” in the hands of the Tanenglian family from July 2004 up to Aug. 10 when she was rescued by authorities.

While inside the house of the Tanenglians, the maids were allegedly “not allowed to use the telephone or cellphone, talk to fellow house helpers, laugh, sit in their (family’s) chairs, look outside the window, watch TV, eat at any time, sleep or rest before our tasks were completed, and read any material or write.

In her first month, Sollano said she already had a taste of the family’s ill treatment. “I was not yet familiar with my job so Ate Aleta got mad and slapped me in the face many times. Since then, they would instantly hurt me for every small mistake I make,” she recalled in Filipino.

“In my five-year stay in their house, I was not allowed to go out. They even threatened me that they would do something bad if I ask for help from outside,” she claimed.

When her contract ended in 2006, Aleta supposedly called a lawyer and told the housemaid to sign a new contract without reading its contents. She only learned later on that she signed another contract for another two years of service in the house. “I could not do anything but to just follow (them),” she lamented, adding she was given “too much punishment for small mistakes.”
She even recalled an instance where she was brought by Aleta and Fayette inside a room to take nude photos of her.

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

Sollano, who had been working for Tan’s household for five years and two months, was rescued by operatives from the Quezon City Police District, CHR and DSWD last Aug.10.

Fearing she was dead, her parents learned of their daughter’s whereabouts only through the help of Bacanto.

The father then sought the help of friends and private lawyers who then brought them to the Commission on Human Rights to seek assistance from authorities.

Source:
People's Tonight
September 9, 2009
Page 2

Another housemaid sues billionaire employer

Another housemaid of businessman Mariano Tanenglian yesterday filed charges against him and his family before the Department of Justice.

Aljane Bacanto, 19, filed maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide charges against Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and children Maximillian and Fayette, all of Bgy. Siena, Quezon City.

Bacanto said she was detained and was never allowed to go out of the house in her three years of employment.

She confirmed fellow housemaid Mary Jane Sollano’s statement that the Tanenglians virtually cut them from the outside world, prohibiting them from calling anybody.

Bacanto said she was only allowed to write letters to her family but upon dictation of Fayette who warned her not to tell her parents about her situation.

“They made me a slave without salary and enough food,” she said.

She added the refrigerators were padlocked and sometimes they were not fed for three days prompting them to steal food.

However, they were beaten black and blue when caught particularly by Aleta, Fayette and Maximillian. She said there was a time that she was forced to eat dog food just to survive.

After leaving the Tanenglian household in February, Bacato immediately alerted Sollano’s parents which led to the latter’s rescue last month.

Sollano was the first to file charges against the Tanenglians.

Source:
Fernando M. Cariaso
People’s Journal
September 9, 2009
Page 11

Another maid files maltreatment charges vs Tanenglian family

A 19-year-old woman yesterday filed criminal charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Lucio Tan’s brother Mariano Tanenglian, his wife and two children for allegedly maltreating her while working as their house help for at least three years.

Aljane Bacanto, a resident of Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, was the one who helped authorities rescue her fellow housemaid Mary Jane Sollano on August 10.

Bacanto filed charges of maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery and frustrated homicide two weeks after Sollano filed her separate complaint against the Tanenglians.

Aside from Mariano, the housemaids named his wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximilian as respondents.

In her complaint-affidavit, Bacanto recounted that she started working as a maid in the Tanenglian household in May 2006 until February this year, when she was allowed to return to her province.

During her three-year stay with the Tanenglians, Bacanto claimed that she and the other housemaids were not allowed to go out, use the telephone and other facilities of the house.

She said her employers would always make sure that the doors were locked and that there were guards outside to prevent them from escaping.

Bacanto added that although she was allowed to write letters to her family, the Tanenglians would dictate what to tell her family.

She said her workday starts as early as 4 a.m and lasts until 12 midnight, and that she and other house help were not given enough food and water.

“We were not allowed to laugh, chat and rest or even use the telephone, radio and television,” Bacanto added.

The complainant added that she was only given food whenever her employers were satisfied with her job and that even the refrigerators were padlocked.

Bacanto said the Tanenglians would beat them up whenever they were caught eating the family’s food or using cellular phones or listening to the radio.

“If we fell asleep during work hours, they would hurt us. There were times that we were not able to eat for three consecutive days, prompting us to steal food. When they caught us, we were severely beaten,” she said.

Bacanto’s statement 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.

Bacanto said she was allowed to return to Tacloban in February 2009 by her employers, who gave her P8,000 for her mother.

Source:
Joel San Juan
Business Mirror
September 8, 2009

Utol ni Lucio Tan niresbakan ng kasambahay

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source:
Bagong Tiktik
Setyembre 2, 2009
Page 2