Helper allegedly blinded by employers in Mindoro detail grueling abuse

A 44-year-old helper has gone blind and acquired numerous scars all over her body after she was allegedly abused by her employers in Mindoro.

In an episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," Elvie Vergara looked back on her traumatic experience as she continues to seek justice.

Elvie recalled that in 2017, a friend offered her the job of being a household helper for a couple, where she also watched over their store.

But in 2020, her employers accused her of theft.

"Hindi nga po daw ako marunong magkuwenta, magsukli. Buhat po nung nagstart po ako sa kanya, hindi po ako sinuswelduhan. Nagbibintang po sila na nagnakaw daw po ako ng pera, ng relo. Wala po akong ginagawa sa kanila," she said.

["They keep telling me that I don't know how to count money. Ever since I started, I haven't been getting paid. They accused me of stealing, but I did not."]

On top of the accusations, Elvie said they started hurting her.

"Itong tainga ko," she recalled. "'Yung mata po binugbog din po. Inuuntog-untog ako sa CR. 'Yun pong ginagawa nila akong parang turumpo. 'Yung pinaikot-ikot po at tinatadyakan, kung saan-saan parteng katawan ko. Pebrero 2020, 2021, 2022. Sunud-sunod na po. Talagang gigil na gigil sila sa akin."

["They'd hurt me, slamming my head against the wall. They'd spin me around and kick me."]

"Sa pagluluto ko, 'yun pong kaunting mali, ginaganun na sa kutsilyo. Tapos itong kabila, ginanun po sa kalan. Binitin ako sa bakal ng karne. Tapos po sinakal-sakal nila ko."

["While I was cooking, they'd threaten me with a knife. They'd even choke me."]

Elvie continued, "Pinukpok po talaga ng martilyo ang ari ko at kamay ko."

["They hammered my hand, even my private parts."]

She suffered wounds and bruises all over her body and eventually lost her teeth.

Elvie did not inform her siblings about her situation out of fear of their involvement.

"'Huwag kayong mag-alala sa akin. Maayos lang ako dito.' 'Yun po lagi ang sinasabi ko sa mga kapatid ko nung huling usap ko," she said. "Nakuha nila ang cellphone ko. Hindi ko na po matawagan ang mga kapatid ko. Ayoko nga po silang madamay."

["'Don't worry about me. I'm OK here.' "That's what I always told my siblings until my employers took my cellphone. I can't call my siblings anymore."]

"Lagi pong sinasabi may kapatid siyang imbestigador," she added. "Isang tawag daw po nila may kumikilos na daw po."

["They keep telling me that they know someone from the authorities and that they could call that person."]

In 2021, Elvie tried to escape and asked for help from a barangay official.

"Nagsumbong po ako. Sabi ko pakitignan po 'tong gamit ko dahil nakatakas po ako sa amo ko. Hindi naman po ako pinansin ng kapitan dun. Tinawagan na po 'yung amo kong lalaki na sabi e, 'Sir, nandito 'yung katulong mo.'"

["I tried to ask for help. But they didn't pay attention to me. They called my employer, and told them that I was there.]

"Pagkuha po sa akin, 'Huwag kayong maniwala dito sa aking katulong. Hindi totoo 'yung mga sinasabi sa inyo.' Buhat nung umuwi ako dun, nagpabait-baitan po sa akin. 'O wala nang mananakit kay Elvie, ha, naka-blotter na kayo dun sa barangay,'" she said.

["When they went to get me, they told the people there not to believe what I said. After that, they pretended to be nice."]

But after a few days, she said that the abuse started again. In fact, it got even worse.

"Matindi na po nung bumalik ako. Wala na po silang tigil. Tuluy-tuloy na pong nasaktan ako. Binubugbog, hinahampas, binabato," Elvie said, adding that she only ate three times a week with their leftover food.

["They wouldn't stop. They kept hurting me."]

Elvie has gone blind after her eyes were constantly hit.

Last May, Elvie was taken to Batangas by her employers, supposedly to have her eyes checked, but instead of heading to the hospital, they went to the house of their child.

"'Pa, bakit kasama ninyo yan si Ate Elvie?' 'Anak, dito muna si Ate Elvie mo ha at ipapagamot natin.' Galit pa nga po 'yung anak. Hindi na po ako pinapagamot," she said.

["'Dad, why is Ate Elvie here?' She'll stay here for the meantime. We have to get her eyes checked. Their child became upset and I wasn't able to seek medical attention."]

Elvie's escape

Aid came in the form of Elvie's fellow helper, "Hana," who was headed home to Mindoro.

Elvie said that she asked Hana for help.

"Nung wala po 'yung anak na panganay, pinakialaman po nung kasamahan ko 'yung laptop, dahil po sira ang cellphone niya," Elvie said.

["When the eldest child wasn't around, we snooped around on her laptop, because her phone was also broken."]

Through Facebook, they were able to find "Jade," one of Elvie's eight siblings. They all thought Elvie was already dead after not hearing from her for almost five years, so they were surprised when they received the message.

They immediately went to Batangas to fetch her long-lost sister.

"'Yung itsura niya po kasi hindi naman po siya ganyan e," Jade said. "Grabe ang ginawa sa kanya. Tinanong ko kung anong dahilan bakit siya ganoon, hindi na siya umimik. Sabi niya lang po 'Ate doon na lang ako magkukwento sa atin, uwi na tayo.'"

["I can't imagine what my sister went through. She looked so different. She told me, 'I'll tell you everything when we get home.'"]

"Dinaan ko po siya sa barangay ng Pallocan, para po kami ay mag-blotter," she added. "Sana magsisi ka. Dahil hindi kami papayag na hindi mabigyan ng katarungan ang aming kapatid, hanggang sa dulo, lalaban po kami."

["We filed a blotter against her employers. We'll do whatever it takes to get justice for my sister."]

Elvie's health findings

During a general check-up, an ophthalmologist found that Elvie's eyes have developed scarring.

"Base sa nakita natin, namumuti na 'yung harapang bahagi. So 'yun 'yung tinatawag natin na corneal scarring or nagkaroon na ng peklat 'yung crystal ng mata. Nangyayari 'yun kapag labis 'yung pagkamaga, kapag sobrang natamaan, Dr. Jom Castro said.

["She has corneal scarring. This happens when the eye is repeatedly hit and swells up."]

"Pangalawa, hindi rin malayo na nagkaroon ng tinatawag natin ng traumatic cataract."

["She might also have what we call a traumatic cataract.]

Meanwhile, Rosalina Laroca from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development said that their focus is Elvie's psychological and emotional well-being.

"Nakikita natin, nakikipag-communicate pero 'yung trauma na sinasabi natin pagdating sa kliyente, nakikita pa rin."

["She's starting to communicate more with us, but you can still see her trauma."]

Call for justice

Elvie and her family have filed a case against her employers.

Atty. Gambol said they filed a case for Serious Illegal Detention, Trafficking, and Serious Physical Injuries.

"Kapag hindi nasuwelduhan, may penal o criminal na pananagutan ang amo ng kasambahay. Dapat ang magpapatunay ng proof beyond reasonable doubt ay ang nagsasakdal o ang prosecution at maparusahan nang habambuhay ang lahat ng taong kasangkot sa ginawang pagmamaltrato kay Elvie," Gambol said.

["Her employers should be held accountable for the maltreatment that Elvie received."]

The barangay captain whom Elvie asked for help will also be held accountable, along with Police Community Relations Executive Master Sergeant Maria Eliza Palabay, who is said to be related to the couple.

Palabay has been fired from her position and will remain at the Provincial Police Headquarters for investigation.

"Sa halip na siya ay tulungan ay tinawagan ng Barangay Chairman ang amo niya," the lawyer said.

["Instead of helping Elvie, the Barangay Chairman called for her employer instead."]

"Bilang ikaw ay pulis at tagapagpatupad ng peace and order pero mukhang 'yung pulis na 'yun ay alam niya na biktima si Elvie ng kaniyang amo pero higit sa lahat ay hindi niya pinansin," he added.

["The police seems to know what Elvie's employers did to her, but they didn't pay attention to her."]

On Tuesday, the Senate will conduct an investigation into Elvie's case.

The KMJS team tried to get a statement from the barangay captain and the police, who are allegedly relatives of the employers, but they declined the interview.

The team also tried reaching out to the couple, but they also refused.

However, in their initial statement, they denied Elvie's allegations and alleged that she stole P2,000 and P12,000 from them.

They denied that they abused Elvie and said that she got blinded after being involved in a fight with their previous worker.

The couple also said that they had Elvie treated and that the police officer was not related to them. They said that the accusations and threats that Elvie received from them were not true.

"Natakot lang po ako baka po totohanin nila na ako'y dadamputin. Hindi ko naman nga po ginawa 'yung mga binibintang sa akin," Elvie said.

["I'm scared that something will happen to me. I didn't do anything wrong."]

"Sana matauhan na sila at huwag na nila gawin 'yung sa ginawa nila sa akin. Sana mabulok nga sila sa kulungan, silang lahat," she added.

["I hope they all rot in jail."]

Jade couldn't help but break down in tears as she called for justice for her sister.

"Sana po magdusa ang mga taong gumawa nito sa aking kapatid at sila'y mabulok na talaga sa kulungan. Sobra-sobra po ang ginawa nila. Talagang hindi po namin kaya silang patawarin."

["We can't ever forgive those who did this to my sister."]

For those who are interested in helping, you may send your donations to:

Metrobank
Account Name: Mabelle T Gregorio
Account Number: 112 311 238 3175

—JCB, GMA Integrated News