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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate panel cites employer of abused house helper in contempt

Senate panel cites employer of abused house helper in contempt

Published Sep 19, 2023 07:29 am

A Senate panel on Tuesday, Sept. 19 has cited in contempt France Garcia Ruiz, the former employer of household helper Elvira Vergara due to her inconsistent answers in the continuing probe into the alleged maltreatment that the latter allegedly endured.

 

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Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino (Senate PRIB photo)

 

In the third hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights chaired by Sen. Francis Tolentino, the panel cited in contempt Vergara just after a discussion regarding Vergara's injuries mainly the deviation of her nasal bridge most likely through trauma.

Vergara stated that she was repeatedly punched by Castro in the face and nose. When asked by Tolentino if she gave her any medication for this, she stated that she didn't because what Vergara's saying was untrue.

This irked Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who pointed out that the evidence is right in front of them that Vergara did suffer an injury to her nose.

"I believe that this woman, Ms. France Ruiz is the mastermind of everything, of maltreating, of inflicting severe injuries leading to the total blindness of Aling Elvie," Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said.

"Therefore Mr. Chair, I move that we cite this woman Mrs. France Garcia Ruiz in contempt," he added.

Estrada also moved that Ruiz to be committed to the Pasay City Jail but after a brief discussion with Tolentino and Dela Rosa, Estrada withdrew this and decided that she be held within the premises of the Senate.

Tolentino said that Ruiz's detention was for continuously evading the questions propounded by the members of this Committee as well as falsely testifying under direct examination by Committee members.

"The preponderance of the witness as against the solitary testimonial evidence being offered by the alleged abuser would weigh the balance in favor of the numbers especially if the victim herself, aided by medical science, is on the side of the truth as shown by her scars, to say the least,” he said in a press conference.

While detained in the Senate,  the Committee will be conducting parallel investigations on the case to finalize charges. She will also undergo a polygraph test and medical examination.
 

Related Tags

Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights Senator Francis ‘Tol’ N. Tolentino Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa Senator Jinggoy Estrada
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