Senate committee subpoenas family who allegedly abused helper in Mindoro

A Senate committee on Tuesday issued a subpoena on the family who allegedly abused their household helper in Mindoro.

Senator Jinngoy Estrada made the motion during the Committee on Justice and Human Rights' probe on the abuse suffered by Elvie Vergara.

The family had sent the committee an excuse letter in which they begged off from attending the hearing.

Estrada tore the letter to pieces saying it was “just a piece of paper” after finding out that it was not signed.

“I move to subpoena the family of Jerry Ruiz, the wife, France Ruiz, and the two children,” Estrada said.

Committee Chairman and Senator Francis Tolentino directed the committee secretary to prepare the necessary subpoena.

Vergara’s former employers were reportedly invited to attend the hearing but said that they were suffering from medical conditions.

The committee secretariat said the supposed letter was sent through a text message from the number registered to the Ruizes.

The 44-year-old Vergara, who has gone blind and acquired numerous scars, looked back on her traumatic experiences in an episode of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.”

Vergara said she did not receive any payment since she started working for the couple in 2017. She said she was accused of theft in 2020.

Vergara also said they started hurting her.

Vergara and her family have filed a cases of Serious Illegal Detention, Trafficking, and Serious Physical Injuries against her employers. — DVM, GMA Integrated News