Senator Francis Tolentino said he joins the call for justice for a 44-year-old ‘kasambahay’ who was allegedly abused by the family of her employer in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro.
He said the Philippine Legal Justice Center (PLJC), which he founded, is closely monitoring and actively collaborating with the lead counsel of Elvie Verga, the household helper who allegedly suffered physical, emotional, and psychological tortures at the hands of her employer in the last three years.
As chairman ng Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Tolentino said he is still studying if his committee will conduct a hearing on the matter.
Vergara was reportedly subjected to relentless physical and emotional maltreatment by her employer—a married couple and their two relatives—from 2020 to 2023, which later caused visual and hearing impairments to the victim.
Tolentino’s PLJC last Friday formed an active collaboration with Vergara’s legal team at the Office of the City Prosecutor in Batangas City in filing criminal charges against her employer, which include violation of the Revised Penal Code—serious physical injuries and serious illegal detention—as well as violation of Republic Act No.
10361 or the so-called ‘Domestic Workers Act’ (Batas Kasambahay).
Tolentino said he is also now studying the possibility of filing ameasure, which seeksto impose stiffer penalties against abusive employers.
“So, the penalties should beincreased… we should also ensure that justice be served to Manang Elvie, “ he said.