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Kasambahay Elvie Vergara reacts as the Philippine Senate holds a hearing at the GSIS Building in Pasay City on September 5, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Kasambahay Elvie Vergara reacts as the Philippine Senate holds a hearing at the GSIS Building in Pasay City on September 5, 2023 the Inquiry was held on the severe battery and maltreatment by employers of Kasambahay Ms. Elvie Vergara resulting to her partial blindness and other injuries. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Sherrie Ann Torres

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Kasambahay Elvie Vergara reacts as the Philippine Senate holds a hearing at the GSIS Building in Pasay City on September 5, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File" src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171258885977420230905-ph-senate-kasambahay-vergara-JC1090.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"/><figcaption>Kasambahay Elvie Vergara reacts as the Philippine Senate holds a hearing at the GSIS Building in Pasay City on September 5, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Justice has recommended the filing of Serious Illegal Detention and Serious Physical Injuries cases against Franilyn “Franz” and Pablo “Jerry” Ruiz, the former employers of household helper Elvie Vergara.</p><p>It also recommended the filing of the same charges against the couple&#x27;s daughter, Danica Jerlyn Garcia Ruiz.</p><p>The recommendation was contained in a January 21, 2024 resolution submitted by Assistant State Prosecutor Jayvee Laurence Bandong, who is the Acting Prosecutor of Batangas City. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/13/abused-helper-elvira-vergara-won-case-vs-employers-tolentino-says-101">READ: Abused helper Elvira Vergara won case vs employers, Tolentino says</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/11/21/23/isabelle-daza-gives-p1-million-to-abused-kasambahay">READ: Isabelle Daza gives P1 million to abused kasambahay</a></div><p>“Premises considered, let an information be filed before the appropriate court against respondents Franilyn G Ruiz, Pablo V. Ruiz aka Jerry and Ma. Danica Jerlyn G. Ruiz for the crime of Serious Illegal Detention with Serious Physical Injuries punished under Article 267, in relation to Article 263, of the Revised Penal Code,” the resolution, released to the media by the office of Senator Francis Tolentino on Monday, stated.</p><p>Senator Tolentino spearheaded the Senate investigation on the case of Vergara who was hired as a househelp of the Ruiz family in Mamburao, Oriental Mindoro.</p><p>“Lumabas na &#x27;yung resolution that the Ruiz couple would now be charged at the appropriate court,” Tolentino told journalists.</p><p>In the 25-page resolution, Bandong took note of the complaint filed by Vergara, claiming abuses by the Ruiz couple which allegedly started in 2020 in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>According to Vergara, she underwent daily heavy beatings which eventually resulted to blindness in her right eye and serious damage on her left eye.</p><p>“The medico legal certificates submitted show that complainant Vergara suffered the following injuries were inflicted by repeated abuse, beating and physical violence of the respondents Ruiz family. She also positively identified every member of the respondents Ruiz family as the ones who abused her and inflicted physical injuries against her on several occasions,” the resolution stated.</p><p>“They did not even bother to bring her to a hospital for proper and immediate treatment. The argument that complainant Vergara was afraid of going to a hospital is untenable. It should be remembered that complainant Vergara was their household helper and that they had the authority over her, especially when it pertains to her health and well-being,” Bantong added.</p><p>In their defense, the Ruiz couple had claimed that Vergara’s dried scars were caused by her habit of scratching and poor hygiene.</p><p>The family also denied abusing Vergara and claimed that the latter’s eyes already had signs of cataract when they hired her.</p><p>They also said Vergara has mental health issues and could have easily escaped if she was maltreated.</p><p>“It is tremendously incomprehensible that respondents Family Ruiz let complainant Vergara stay knowing that her alleged “mental Illness” is perilous to their lives... however, they retained complainant Vergara in their household, which only meant that the said mental illness is non-existent,” the resolution stated.</p><p>Charges against another child of the Ruiz couple who is a minor and who allegedly beat Vergara was referred to the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Occidental Mindoro.</p><p>The charges of physical injuries against Barangay Chairman Jimmy Patal who allowed Vergara to return to the Ruiz family and PEMS Maria Eliza Palabay who allegedly threatened the househelper were referred to the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Occidental Mindoro. </p><p>The charges of violation against “Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2023” against the  Ruiz couple meanwhile have been dismissed.</p><p>The Department of Labor and Employment was also furnished by the Batangas City Prosecutor a copy of the decision in connection with charges of violation of RA 10361 or the “Domestic Workers Act” or “Batas Kasambahay.”</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" frameBorder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r28CQS8IQs0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" width="640"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" frameBorder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kDrOvO7nnSM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" width="640"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>The Department of Justice has recommended the filing of Serious Illegal Detention and Serious Physical Injuries cases against Franilyn “Franz” and Pablo “Jerry” Ruiz, the former employers of household helper Elvie Vergara.</p>

The Department of Justice has recommended the filing of Serious Illegal Detention and Serious Physical Injuries cases against Franilyn “Franz” and Pablo “Jerry” Ruiz, the former employers of household helper Elvie Vergara.

DOJ recommends illegal detention raps vs Elvie Vergara's ex-employers

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DOJ recommends illegal detention raps vs Elvie Vergara's ex-employers

Sherrie Ann Torres,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 09, 2024 12:14 AM PHT

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Senate

DOJ

Department of Justice

Elvie Vergara

illegal detention

abuse

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