House help charged for kidnapping child

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office has indicted the house help accused of abducting a 12-year-old deaf mute girl last January 30, 2012.

Prosecutor Hyacinth Jadraque charged Elma Dadis, 27, native of Tugbong, Kanangga Leyte, of kidnapping before the Regional Trial Court.

“After perusal of the records and a careful evaluation of the factual allegations in the complaint-affidavit including the supporting documents attached thereto will show that there exists probable cause against the respondent and should be held for trial,” Jadraque’s resolution reads.

Jadraque recommended no bail for Dadis.

In her complaint-affidavit, the girl’s aunt, Evelina Matugas, 51, said she left her niece, Mary Mae Caballero, with Dadis when she went to the department store around 3p.m. last January 30.

However, when she returned at around 8:00 p.m., Dadis and the girl were no longer in the house.

“That after a few minutes, our neighbor Consuelo Enderez went to my residence and informed me that she saw Elma Dadis together with Mary Mae Caballero left at my residence,” the affidavit reads.

After learning this, Matugas said she then called Dadis’ husband, Joel, and informed him of what his wife did. She said Joel told her to go to the JY Square Mall in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City. However, she did not see Elma nor the child when she arrived there, Matugas said. 

That on the same day I kept on contacting the mobile phone of Elma Dadis but she did not answer my call,” she said.

It was reportedly on February 1, 2012 when Dadis finally contacted her and informed her that she was in Leyte and that the child gone missing while they were still in Tabunok.

Matugas said she again contacted Joel to confirm if his wife was indeed in Leyte to which Joel reportedly answered in the affirmative. He also reportedly added that his wife went there alone.

Not content with Joel’s words, Matugas went to Leyte and, with the help of the police in Kanangga, proceeded to Dadis’ house in Tugbong. She still did not see Dadis there.

Jadraque said she ordered Dadis to file a counter-affidavit to controvert the charges, but the house help failed to do so.

“Herein complaint shall be deemed submitted for resolution based on the documents submitted by complainant,” resolution reads. – (FREEMAN)