Abused maid's employers face court case

MANILA, Philippines - A husband and wife accused of maltreating their helper are facing criminal charges before the court.

Reynold Marzan and his wife, Annaliza, were charged with serious illegal detention before the regional trial court in Quezon City. Annaliza was also charged with two counts of attempted homicide before the RTC and seven counts of serious physical injury before the metropolitan trial court.

These cases were recommended by Assistant Prosecutor Ronald Torrijos, who found probable cause to indict the couple in court.

Torrijos, however, dismissed the charges against Reynold as an accessory to the crime of serious physical injuries and attempted murder for insufficiency of evidence.

Victim Bonita Baran filed the cases against her former employers with the help of the Public Attorney’s Office.

“The scars on her head and body, the deformities on her face and her blindness in her right eye are eloquent witnesses of its veracity and speak volumes on how she was inhumanely treated,” Torrijos said.

During the preliminary investigation of the case, the couple failed to appear and submit their counter-affidavit despite due notice.

No bail was recommended for the couple on the charges of serious illegal detention.