The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights on Tuesday, September 5 made a commitment to assist the household helper who sought the Senate’s help in seeking justice against her abusive employers. 

Sen. Francis Tolentino and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada questions former employer France Garcia Ruiz during the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights' inquiry into the severe battery and maltreatment household helper Elvie Vergara resulting in her partial blindness and other injuries in the Senate on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 (Photo by Ali Vicoy/MB)

Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada told Elvira Vergara he will shoulder her medical expenses and urged her to seek immediate treatment at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). 

The Senate justice panel, chaired by Sen. Francis Tolentino, also made arrangements to transport Vergara to and from the hospital.

Vergara became blind from the physical abuse she suffered from her employers Pablo and France Ruiz. The couple were present during the hearing. 

According to Vergara, her female employer would bash her head on the wall of their bathroom or kitchen sink whenever she makes a mistake, even if it was small.

“Kayo na lang po ang hinihintay, nasa sa inyo na lang po yan kung kailan kayo pupunta sa PGH, naigawa na po lahat ng paraan dyan para maisaayos, tanggapin kayo. Na-refer na po kayo dun, at hinihintay na lang kayo para ma-assess ang condition ng mata ni Manang Elvie,” Tolentino told Vergara. 

“Sasagutin na po namin yung (gastos) kung kinakailangan pong operahan si Aling Elvie. Sasagutin na po namin yung operation,” Estrada also said. 

“But kelangan nyo nang pumunta sa ospital…meron nang doctor na nakaabang sa inyo. Puntahan nyo na kahit mamaya,” Estrada added.

“Perhaps we can ask the Senate medical staff to utilize the ambulance of the Senate and bring Ms. Elvie to the PGH,” Tolentino interjected. 

Dr. Airene Oloroso, from the Batangas Medical Center, who examined Vergara’s eyesight, told the panel that Vergara’s eyes shrinked due to possible previous trauma. Her left eye, the doctor said, was punctured. 

Vergara’s right eye, on the other hand, can still function but her vision can only process “light perception”: “Parang halos pabulag na po your honor (She is almost blind your honor). Category 4. Ilaw na lang po ang nakikita your honor),” the doctor said. 

Asked if it can still be reversed, Oloroso said it would be a very difficult process due to the numerous injuries she obtained, since aside from her cataract, her retina is also damaged and may  need surgery. 

“Yung kanan po (kaya pa), yung left po wala na talaga (The right eye can still be fixed but not the left eye),” she said. 

“Maliit pa rin ang tsansa na maka recover ang kanyang mga mata (There is still little chance for her to recover her eyesight,” Oloroso said.

Also during the hearing, Estrada sought the issuance of an arrest warrant against the children of the Ruiz couple. According to Vergara, even the couple’s daughter physically and verbally abused her when she was sent to serve them in their home in Batangas. 

During the hearing, France Garcia Ruiz denied mistreating Vergara and insisted that their househelper sustained the injuries after fighting other househelpers. 

France also denied Vergara’s claim that she started working for them in 2017, saying she only employed her in 2019. 

She also denied it was her who physically assaulted Vergara, saying it was another of their household helper named “JM” who caused the damage to her eyes, allegedly because she entered his room.

Pablo Ruiz also denied hitting Vergara each time he is drunk, saying he seldom drinks alcohol. 

But Estrada warned the couple he will pursue charges against them especially if they prove to be lying to the committee, warning they could also end up in jail similar to what happened to the couple who detained and physically abused Bonita Baran, their household help whose face they ironed.