Senate orders couple's arrest

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has signed the arrest warrant for a couple accused of torturing their 21-year-old housemaid Bonita Baran.

Senate President Pro-tempore Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Senate committee on labor and employment, said the arrest order for Annaliza and Reynold Marzan was presented to Enrile after the committee garnered the signature of the majority of its members.

Members of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms were deployed to the couple’s listed address in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City to implement the arrest order. 

Once arrested, the Marzans will be under the Senate custody until they appear in the next hearing.

Quezon City Judge Germano Francisco has also issued a warrant for the couple’s arrest. No bail was recommended for the charges of serious illegal detention filed against them.

Annaliza is facing two more counts of attempted homicide before the Quezon City court and seven counts of serious physical injuries before the Metropolitan Trial Court.

Assistant Quezon City Prosecutor Ulric Badiola asked the court to issue a hold departure order against the couple.

The maid appeared in the Senate in a wheelchair during the initial hearing two weeks ago. She said her female boss burned her face using a flat iron.

Baran lost vision in one eye as a result of the assaults by the couple.

The committee moved to order the couple’s arrest after they failed to attend the Senate probe on Tuesday despite summons by the committee.

Estrada found untrue the claims of the couple’s lawyer, Jess Fernandez, that Bonita’s injuries were self-inflicted.  –With Reinir Padua