Court issues new arrest warrant vs Tanenglian, family

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City judge has issued a new warrant of arrest and hold departure order against Mariano Tanenglian and his family due to criminal charges filed against them by a former maid.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 102 Judge Ma. Lourdes Giron issued a seven-page order after finding probable cause for violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law (RA 7610) in five cases pending against Mariano, his wife Aleta, and children Fayette and Maximilian.

Giron set bail at P80,000 for each count of the charges against the Tanenglians by their former housemaid, Mary Jane Sollano.

Giron, however, cleared the Tanenglians of charges for alleged violation of the Anti-Trafficking of Persons and for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, both unbailable offenses.

The judge said the complainant was not forced to render service to the accused since the complainant was first recruited by an employment agency and later deployed to the Tanenglian household.

Giron also said there was no illegal detention because it was necessary for the maid to stay at the house of the accused.

Quezon City RTC Branch 94 Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria also issued a warrant of arrest and directed the issuance of an HDO against the Tanenglians in connection with similar charges filed earlier by Aljane Bacanto, another former maid of the Tanenglians.

The Tanenglians also have pending cases before Branch 94 for nine counts of violating RA 7610, Republic Act 9208 (Anti-Trafficking of Persons Act), kidnapping, and serious illegal detention.

Members of the women’s group Gabriela attended the hearing in a show of support. Lana Linagan, Gabriela secretary general, said they hope the arrest warrants are served to show that justice does not discriminate between the poor and the rich.

The parents of the two maids, who were present at the hearing, said they would pursue the separate cases of their children and would not accept any settlement if any was offered.

Lawyers of both parties declined to comment citing the confidential nature of Family Court proceedings. Both Branch 102 and 94 are Family Courts.