Barangay sets hearing of Maricel Soriano case today

MANILA, Philippines -  Veteran actress Maricel Soriano will have her chance today to confront her two former household workers who earlier lodged a complaint of serious physical injury against her.

At 4 p.m., the first of three hearings will be conducted by officials of Barangay Poblacion on the complaint filed against Soriano by Camille Acojedo, 18, and May Cachuela, 22.

Acojedo and Cachuela, who both hail from Zambales, appeared at the Barangay Poblacion hall last June 30 and filed their complaint against Soriano.

“It was a fiesta and we were surprised to see them here at the hall,” said barangay administrator Michael Gonzales.

In their complaint, Acojedo and Cachuela accused Soriano of allegedly beating them up, threatening to kill them and hurling expletives at them during their stay at the actress’ unit at the Rockwell Rizal Tower.

According to Acojedo and Cachuela, they decided to flee from the actress’ condominium unit also because of her alleged cocaine use.

According to Gonzales, two other former household helpers filed a similar complaint against Soriano before the barangay hall last February.

Gonzales said the two complainants never showed up for the scheduled hearings. Soriano also did not appear for the hearings. The complaint was not referred to the police, Gonzales said.

Gonzales said if after three hearings, the complaint is not resolved or the subject of the complaint has not appeared, the complaint is then sent to the police for filing of a criminal case.

Gonzales said that as with the previous complaint filed against Soriano, they do not expect the actress to attend today’s hearing.