Special field investigator Jess Cañete of the Commission on Human Rights in Negros Oriental has asked his superiors at the CHR Central Office in Metro Manila to help facilitate a possible hold departure order against a couple charged with various offenses in relation to the “maltreatment” of four house helpers.
Cañete, in an early interview Monday, had announced that as soon as the filing of criminal charges against suspects Regan Alfanta and Shiela Marie Cielo-Alfanta had been completed, he would seek a hold departure order against them following reports the couple had already left their house in Barangay Suludpan, Bacong town in Negros Oriental.
Investigation revealed that husband and wife had previously been overseas and may have the capability to leave the country in the light of the multiple criminal cases filed against them, Cañete had said. Regan Alfanta is believed to hold a Norwegian citizenship.
During a Kapihan sa PIA forum Tuesday, held in support of the nationwide 18-day campaign to End Violence Against Women, Cañete announced that at least 16 different charges have already been completed and filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against the Alfanta couple.
These include Art. 264 (Administering Injurious Substances or Beverages), Art. 265 (Less Serious Physical Injuries), and Art. 272 (Slavery) all of the Revised Penal Code and at four counts each, and violation of R.A. 7610 (child abuse and exploitation) and/or any other charges as may be established by the evidences presented at three counts, said Cañete.
The charges stem from revelations of the house helpers that they were allegedly forced to eat soap or crushed tiles and drink rubbing alcohol, eat fine corn meal with salt and sleep in the garage. The girls said that for every single mistake or failure to comply with their chores, they were “punished” by either the husband or wife.
The complainants include three 17-year old girls from Bonawon, Siaton town and Roel Austero, 28, of Bacong town, all in Negros Oriental, who were rescued last week by authorities following reports they were allegedly abused and maltreated by their employers.
Cañete said he also included Tuesday morning another charge in violation of Sec. 5 of R.A. 7610 for what he believes was an act of lasciviousness after one of the minors alleged that she was “forced” to undress in front of their employers and other household members.
The complainants further disclosed that some of the “abuses” they suffered include being hit by a baseball bat and struck by a claw hammer, scalding water tossed at them, punches in the stomach and other parts of the body, a few hours of sleep at night, non-payment of wages, controlled contact with their parents and family and going without food for days.
Cañete’s immediate worry now is to convince the parents and relatives of the house helpers to pursue the cases filed against the Alfanta couple, noting the financial support needed for such.
Pledges have been made by the provincial and local Social Welfare Offices of Bacong and Siaton as well as from other agencies and the Visayas Forum, Inc. to provide the necessary assistance to the complainants to secure a tight case against the suspects.