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

Sampulan ang mga abusadong bigtime na bossing!

Tama ang desisyon ng Commission on Human Rights (CHR) na imbestigahan ang negosyanteng si Mariano Tanenglian na inireklamo ng kanyang atsay ng pananakit at pagmamalupit.

Karaniwan kasing kinakasuhan lamang ay ang mga ordinaryong mamamayan kapag sinaktan ang mga katulong pero ang mga multi-milyonaryo ay karaniwang nakatatakas sa pananagutan sa batas.

Nailigtas kasi ng pinagsanib na puwersa ng CHR, DSWD at QC Police ang biktimang si Mary Jane Sollano kung saan lapnos ang mga kamay nito makaraang buhusan ng mainit na tubig ng among si Tanenglian.

Isinampa ng biktima ang kasong kriminal sa kanyang amo kabilang ang maltreatment, serious illegal detention, slavery, at frustrated homicide sa DOJ kasama ang asawa at dalawa pang anak.

Sa isang affidavit, idinetalye ni Mary Jane ang pang-aabuso at pang-aalipin kung saan hindi siya pinagagamit ng telepono, ipinagbabawal sa kanya ang pagtawa, hiindi pinayagan na maupo sa upuan ng pamilya, bawal tumingin sa labas ng bintana, bawal manood ng TV, bawal magkukot ng pagkain anumang oras na gusto niya, bawal magbasa ng babasahin at bawal din ang magsulat.

Naganap ang pagmamaltrato mula pa noong Hulyo 2004 nang siya ay menor-de-edad pa lamang kung saan pinapirma siya ng ekstensiyon ng kontrata nang hindi niya naiintindihan kaya’t umabot siya ng mahigit limang taon sa pang-aabuso.

Ilan pa kayang Mary Jane ang patuloy na inaabuso ng malulupit na amo sa mga eksklusibong tirahan ng mga multi-milyonaryo sa ating bansa?
Ilan kaya?

Source:
Bulgar
Setyembre 2, 2009
Page 3

Tanenglian lagot sa CHR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source:
Police Files
Setyembre 1, 2009
Page 2

Mariano Tan’s ex-maid details alleged abuse

When she finally saw her father after five years since she left home to work for businessman Mariano Tanenglian as a maid, Mary Jane Sollano said her skin was so fair and her eyes were irritated by the sunlight.

Sollano, 18, talked to The STAR yesterday morning, saying that for five years until she was rescued by authorities last Aug. 10, she was not allowed to go out of her employer’s house in Quezon City, doing household chores without getting paid.

“There came a point when I no longer knew what day it was… and I never even expected the day would come when I would finally be able to get out,” Sollano said in Filipino.

She said her ordeal included not having anything to eat for days, being forbidden to go near the faucet because she was not allowed to drink water, and getting chained for the slightest mistake she made.

Contacted by The STAR for comment, Tanenglian’s lawyer, Raymundo Quiroz, denied the allegations against his client.

“These are just allegations that can be alleged easily. We will answer them in due time,” Quiroz said, noting Tanenglian was ready to face the charges filed against them by Sollano.

The teenage maid has filed criminal charges against Tanenglian, his wife and two children before the Department of Justice.

Quiroz said the charges are “part of a bigger issue,” noting that Tanenglian has volunteered to testify against his estranged brother, businessman Lucio Tan, in a government case.

According to Sollano, she started work at the Tanenglian household in 2004 when she was recruited from Zamboanga del Sur. She had just finished her first year in high school but insisted on working in the city since her father, who maintains a farm, was sick at that time.

“I was supposed to work here only for two years. After that, I planned on continuing my studies in the province,” she said.

Sollano said when she could not do her job well, members of Tanenglian’s family started slapping, kicking and chaining her.

She said when fellow housemaid Aljane Bacanto managed to contact her parents and get out of the Tanenglian house, she was left behind to do all the chores all by herself, starting her day at 4 a.m. and ending at around midnight.

Sollano said when she became sick, her employer “would just have me take medicine… but I had to continue working.”

She said that during her five years with the Tanenglians, she had to make do with only three sets of shorts and shirts given to her.

Sollano said that on the afternoon of Aug. 10, she was surprised that she was given what seemed a new blouse and a pair of jeans.

“They told me to take a bath and dress up. And then I was told to say, whenever I would be asked, that they were nice to me,” she said.

She said she was eventually shown a picture of her father, and soon found out that her father was already outside, along with representatives from the Commission on Human Rights, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the police.

Bacanto, after her flight from the house, informed Sollano’s parents about their condition, Sollano said.

Sollano’s father, Rolando, recalled that day when he finally saw his teenage daughter. “I didn’t know what to feel. I was happy to have seen her alive as I thought she was already dead when we tried but failed to locate her during the first two years she was missing. I should be happy, but after seeing her condition, I didn’t know what to feel,” he said.

Rolando said he saw his daughter squinting, apparently blinded by the sunlight. He said this indicated she was indoors for a long time.

But Quiroz maintained that Sollano’s claims were “bare allegations,” adding that “it’s so easy to say these things.”

Sollano’s lawyer, Al Parreño, his client and her family are determined to push through with the charges against the Tanenglians.

Source:
The Philippine Star
September 1, 2009
Page 15

CHR pasok sa inabusong katulong

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tsinoy iimbestigahan ng CHR

Magsasagawa ng hiwalay na imbestigasyon ang Commission on Human Rights laban sa pamilyang Tsinoy na sinampahan ng kaso ng katulong na umano’y inalipin at minaltrato ng mga ito.

Ito ang nabatid kahapon ng pahayagang ito mula sa pamilya ng biktimang si Mary Jane Sollano, 18, tubong Zamboanga del Sur at naninirahan sa panulukan ng Biak na Bato at Dapitan Sts., Brgy. Siena, Quezon City.

Gagawin umano ito ng CHR batay sa kahilingan ng pamilya Sollano na mapalakas ang sumbong ng biktima laban kina Mariano, Aleta, Maximillian at Fayette Tanenglian at iba pa.

Nabatid na nakasampa na sa Department of Justice ang kasong pang-aalipin, pangmamaltrato, serious illegal detention at frustrated homicide laban sa mga Tanenglian sa tulong ng pulisya.

Ipinaliwanag ng pamilya Sollano ng magiging bantay nila ang CHR laban sa posibleng paggamit ng Tanenglian ng kanilang impluwensiya sa mga kinauukulan na may hawak sa kaso ng biktima.

Matatandaang nagging katulong si Mary Jane ng mga Tanenglian ng kung ilang taon simula noong 13 anyos pa lang siya at nasagip lang ito kamakailan ng pinagsanib na puwersa ng pulisya, CHR at Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Napag-alaman na habang nagsisilbing kasambahay ang biktima, nakaranas siya ng mga pagmamalupit at pananakit hanggang halos mamatay siya, pagkakadena, paggutom, pagbabawal sa kanya na makipag-ugnayan sa pamilya, pagkulong at pambabastos gaya ng pagkuha ng litrato sa kanya habang nagtatrabaho ng nakahubo’t hubad.

Wala pa umanong nakatitiyak kung ano ang kahihinatnan ng naturang kaso sa DOJ subalit hangad ng pamilya Sollano na susulong sa hukuman ang kaso upang makamit nila ang katarungan.

Source:
Remate
Setyembre 1, 2009
Page 5

HDO vs nang-aabuso sa kasambahay pinag-aaralan

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

Kasabay ng imbestigasyon ay pag-aaralan ng CHR kung hihilingin sa Bureau of Immigration (BI) na maglabas ito ng hold-departure order laban kay Mariano Tanenglian, ayon kay Atty. Carmelita Rosete, pinuno ng CHR Protection and Monitoring Division.

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

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

Kasama sa complaint ng bikitma ang affidavits mula sa kapulisan, Commission on Human Rights, Department of Social Welfare and Development at iba pang tao na naroon nang iligtas si Sollano.

Source:
Abante Tonite
September 1, 2009
Page 8