The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will offer financial assistance for the human rights violations suffered by kasambahay Silvera "Elvie" Vergara, who was reportedly abused by her employers from Occidental Mindoro.

In a statement, the CHR expressed deep concern over the reported long years of abuse and maltreatment suffered by Vergara. Aside from financial assistance, the CHR Region IV-B office has already started its own investigation to help ensure justice for Vergara.

It said that based on its initial investigation, Vergara started her employment as a househelp at the family residence of husband and wife Jerry and France Ruiz in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro in 2017. She received a P5,000 monthly salary.

It was in 2020 when Vergara reportedly started receiving a spate of violent and cruel treatment from her employers after she was accused of stealing P2,000 and P12,000, which she has denied, the CHR said.

It said that Vergara discosed that she was beaten, choked, hit, and slit with a knife. The kasambahay also revealed that she would usually eat leftovers, and that she was not paid her wages and benefits for the entire duration of her service, it also said.

Worse, the abuse was also reportedly carried out by the 16 and 18-year-old children of the Ruiz couple. Because of what she endured, Vergara said the years-long abuse resulted in fractures, facial deformities, and loss of eyesight, the CHR said.

In 2021, Vergara said she tried to escape the family household and approached barangay chairman Jimmy Patal of Barangay 7 of Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro. She sought help and wanted someone to vouch that she did not steal anything from the Ruiz residence. However, she was ignored and the barangay chairman even called her employers to bring her back to their house, the commission also said.

"This case reveals the vulnerability of domestic workers even in our own country. This is unfortunate considering that the Philippines is among the first countries to affirm the Domestic Workers Convention under the International Labour Organization Convention No. 189, which declares that domestic workers have the right to a safe and healthy working environment," the CHR said.

"As such, CHR commends all those who have taken active steps to address the injustice experienced by Vergara, such as the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, led by Senator Jinggoy Estrada, for tackling the plight of this vulnerable sector towards strengthening their protection in the law," it said.

"We likewise support the legal reform proposed by Senator Raffy Tulfo seeking to amend Republic Act No. 10361, also known as the Domestic Workers Act or 'Batas Kasambahay' and Article 310 of the Revised Penal Code on Qualified Theft."

For now, the CHR has already issued a subpoena to Vergara's employers and is preparing the filing of charges against the barangay chairman who refused to help the kasambahay. The CHR is also closely monitoring the plans and actions of concerned agencies on the case of Vergara.

Several agencies have already stood up for Vergara, such as the City Social Welfare Development of Batangas, which has provided her with psychotherapy session, cash assistance of P10,000 and a Persons with Disability card.

The Philippine National Police Batangas also referred her to the National Bureau of Investigation so there will be no need for Vergara to go to Occidental Mindoro. Lastly, the Department of Labor and Employment already made efforts to ensure the release of Vergara's unpaid wages.

"As we continue to pursue our independent investigation and monitoring of the case, may the case of Vergara serve as a wake up call for the need to reexamine and provide reforms in safeguarding our domestic workers in the country," the CHR said.