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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Prosecutors approve filing of criminal charges vs employers of househelp Elvie Vergara

Prosecutors approve filing of criminal charges vs employers of househelp Elvie Vergara

Published Apr 8, 2024 07:34 am

The Batangas City Prosecutor’s Office has approved the filing of criminal charges against three family members for allegedly detaining and physically abusing their household helper Silvera “Elvie” D. Vergara.

In a 25-page resolution, the Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) recommended that Franilyn G. Ruiz, Pablo V. Ruiz and Ma. Danica Jerlyn G. Ruiz be charged with serious illegal detention and serious physical injuries under the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

“An examination of the records shows that complainant Vergara was detained against her will from the year 2020 up to her rescue in 2023,” stated the resolution signed by Assistant State Prosecutor Jayvee Laurence B. Bandong, the acting city prosecutor of Batangas City.

Vergara had been working for the Ruiz family in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro since 2017 but was transferred in 2023 to Danica’s house in Pallocan West, Batangas City where the complainant was rescued by her siblings on June 28, 2023 and rushed to the hospital.

Since 2020, the OCP said “she was constantly subjected to abuse and physical violence.”

Though she managed to escape and sought the help of barangay officials in 2021, the OCP said the Ruiz family managed to get Vergara back.

“The fact that respondents Pablo took her custody again in 2021 shows there was intent to prevent complainant Vergara from escaping her detention,” the OCP stressed.

During her time with the Ruiz family, the OCP stated “it is clear that complainant Vergara sustained permanent scars to her head and body.” “Both her eyes are blind and her ears were also deformed,” it added.

“These injuries were sustained by complainant Vergara from 2020, while she was in respondents Ruiz family custody, until she was rescued in June 2023,” the OCP declared.

Meanwhile, the OCP recommended that the complaints against the other co-respondents be referred to the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Occidental Mindoro for appropriate action.

These co-respondents are Kim Jerome G. Ruiz, Police Executive Master Sergeant Eliza C. Palabay, and Barangay Chairman Jimmy V. Patal.

The OCP also referred to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for appropriate action the allegations made by Vergara that that Republic Act (RA) 10361, also known as the Domestic Workers Act or Batas Kasambay, was violated.

On the other hand, the OCP dismissed the allegations that there were violations of RA 9208, the Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

“The essence of the crime of trafficking in persons is the hiring, recruitment, and/or receipt of a person for the purpose of exploitation. It is essential that the purpose of exploitation must be the principal motivator for the hiring, recruitment, and/or receipt of a person,” the OCP stated.

However, it pointed out that “it appears that complainant was hired and/or recruited, first and foremost, as a helper.”

“Stated otherwise, the complainant failed to prove that the purpose of complainant Vergara’s hiring and recruitment was for forced labor, slavery, debt bondage and involuntary servitude,” it explained. 

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