Maids file complaint vs Mariano Tan

MANILA, Philippines - Despite having signed a “settlement” with their former employer, two women filed a formal complaint against Mariano Tan for the abuse they allegedly received when they worked for him as housemaids.

Mary Jane Sollano, 18, and Aljane Bacanto, 19, went to the Quezon City Police District-Station 1 to give their sworn statements against the family of their former employer, an estranged brother of businessman Lucio Tan.

Lawyer Al Parreño said Bacanto escaped Tan’s house in Barangay Sto. Domingo and informed Sollano’s parents about their plight, leading to Sollano’s rescue.

Parreño said that they hope to be able to file criminal charges against Tan, his wife and two children today.

“We are looking into the possibility of filing charges of serious illegal detention, frustrated homicide and serious physical injuries,” Parreño said in an interview.

Asked about the settlement earlier signed by Sollano’s family with her former boss, Parreño said: “A compromise agreement is not a basis for (evading) criminal liability.” Village officials and police said the P150,000 was to cover Sollano’s unpaid salaries for the past five years.

He said it took time for the two house helpers to file the complaint after Sollano’s rescue last week since the two had to undergo counseling.

“They’re still undergoing psychological and medical treatment for the trauma they suffered,” Parreño said, adding that Teresita Ang-See’s group, Kaisa Foundation, has been helping the two women.

The house helpers claimed they suffered physical, emotional and psychological abuse at the hands of Tan’s wife and two children. Sollano claimed she was imprisoned in Tan’s house for five years while Bacanto said she was trapped there for three years.