Co-Sponsorship Speech in Committee Report No. 170
Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
Motu Proprio Inquiry Into the Severe Battery and Maltreatment by Employer of Kasambahay Ms. Elvie Vergara Resulting in Her Partial Blindness and Other Injuries
Mister President, it is an honor to co-sponsor Committee Report No. 170 regarding the motu proprio inquiry into the severe battery and maltreatment by employers of kasambahay Ms. Elvie Vergara resulting in her partial blindness and other injuries, reported out by the committee on justice and human rights under the able leadership of its Chairperson, Senator Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino.
Ginoong pangulo, si Aling Elvie ay apatnapu’t apat (44) na taong gulang na kasambahay sa Occidental Mindoro. Sa kasamaang palad, maraming beses siyang binugbog at sinaktan ng kanyang mga amo na sina Franz at Jerry Ruiz. Dahil dito, si Aling Elvie ngayon ay halos bulag na, maraming peklat sa katawan at nakararanas ng matinding trauma. Ang lalong nagpalala ng kanyang sitwasyon ay hindi nakatanggap si Aling Elvie ng suweldo sa pitong taon niyang paninilbihan—at pagtitiis sa pagmamalupit ng kanyang mga amo—bilang kasambahay.
Mr. President, the recent Senate investigation is like a de ja vu. Because it was eleven years ago, as then Chairman of the Committee on Labor and Employment, when I conducted a Senate inquiry on the maltreatment of a kasambahay named Bonita Baran. She was a domestic helper who almost completely lost her vision after her employer pressed a hot iron against her face. She sustained serious injuries and bruises all over her body due to repeated beating and hitting by her employer.
Noong Pebrero 10, 2021, pagkatapos ng maraming taong paghihintay, nakamit sa wakas ni Bonita ang hustisya when the Supreme Court (SC) affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) and dismissed the appeal filed by spouses Anna Liza and Reynold Marzan who were found guilty of serious illegal detention of their former housemaid Bonita Baran from 2009 to 2012. However, the case involving Anna Liza was dismissed in view of her death on June 22, 2020, while Reynold was elevated from accomplice to principal in the same crime.
Si Mr. Reynold Marzan ay nasentensiyahan ng reclusion perpetua at hinatulang magbayad kay bonita ng P225,000 bilang moral damages, exemplary damages at civil indemnity.
Ang Senate investigation tungkol kay Bonita Baran ay naging daan upang mapabilis ang pagsasabatas noong 2013 ng Republic Act No. 10361 na mas kilala bilang “Batas Kasambahay”. Batas Kasambahay is a landmark piece of labor and social legislation that recognizes, for the first time, domestic workers as similar to those in the formal sector.
Bilang pangunahing may akda ng Batas Kasambahay, ako ay lubos na nalulungkot na sampung (10) taon pagkatapos na maisabatas ito, mayroon na namang pang-aabuso at pagmamalupit na nangyari sa isa nating kababayan na kasambahay, si aling Elvie Vergara, sa kamay ng kanyang mga amo. Halos parehas ang kanilang sitwasyon na dahil sa sobrang pananakit at pambubugbog ng kanilang among pinagsisilbihan, halos mabulag at mawalan na sila ng paningin.
Sumasang-ayon po ako sa nilalaman ng committee report na dapat nating palakasin pa ang Batas Kasambahay para parusahan at mapanagot ang mga abusadong employer na pinagmamalupitan ang kanilang kasambahay. naniniwala po ako na ang ating mga kasambahay ay dapat tinatrato nang mabuti at may paggalang sa kanilang karapatang pantao, bilang sukli sa kanilang tapat na paninilbihan.
This is our commitment to the international community as a signatory to International Labor Organization Convention 189 or the Domestic Workers Convention of 2011.
Ginoong Pangulo, ang hangad ko ay mabigyan din ng hustisya si Aling Elvie vergara katulad ng nangyari kay Bonita Baran.
Hangad ko rin na ang resulta ng Senate inquiry na ito ay magiging daan para matigil na ang pang-aabuso sa ating mga kasambahay.
Maraming Salamat po.