MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City regional trial court (RTC) has raffled off the seven counts of child abuse against businessman Mariano Tanenglian and his family in connection with the alleged maltreatment of one of their underage housemaids.
The case, which went to Quezon City RTC Branch 94 Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria, stemmed from a complaint filed by Aljane Bacanto, a former housemaid of the Tanenglians.
Bacanto alleged that Tanenglian; his wife, Aleta; and children Fayette and Maximillian abused her.
The Tanenglians have filed a motion to suspend the proceedings, according to the court calendar of cases.
Bacanto’s case is second to be filed against the Tanenglians after the case of another former helper, Mary Jane Sollano, was assigned to Branch 102 Judge Lourdes Giron.
Bacanto claimed she was 16 when she was first hired – with a monthly salary of P2,000 – in May 2006. She said she was allegedly maltreated by the family and was finally allowed to go home in January 2009 but without a salary.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) Task Force on Women and Children Protection earlier found probable cause against the Tanenglians and filed the child abuse case in court.
The DOJ recommended P80,000 bail for each count of child abuse as well as the filing of charges serious illegal detention and trafficking, which are non-bailable offenses.
Tanenglian’s lawyer, Raymund Quiroz, said they have asked the court to hold the issuance of the warrant of arrest on grounds that their motion for reconsideration is pending with the DOJ.
With the pending motion, the case should be in the preliminary investigation stage, not raffled off to a court, he added.
Quiroz said they pointed out in the motion for reconsideration the “inconsistencies” in the testimonies of the two housemaids. These inconsistent statements are the sole basis of the case against his clients, he added.