MANILA, Philippines--Charges of child abuse were formally filed anew against the family of the brother of tycoon Lucio Tan in a Quezon City court for allegedly maltreating a 16-year-old housemaid.

Facing criminal charges of child abuse or violation of Republic Act 7610 is businessman Mariano Tanenglian, his wife Aleta and children Fayette and Maximillian.

The seven counts of child abuse were formally filed last week in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court and were raffled off to Branch 94, presided by Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria.

Tria?s sala is a family court, thus parties other than the complainant and the accused are not allowed to inquire about the case.

A check with the court calendar of cases yesterday, however, revealed that the Tanenglians filed a motion to suspend the proceedings.

The seven counts, accompanied by a motion for consolidation, were based on a complaint by Aljane Bacanto, a former housemaid of the Tanenglians.

This is the second case to be filed against the Tanenglians; a the first case, based on a complaint by Mary Jane Sollano, has been assigned to Branch 102 under Judge Lourdes Giron.

Bacanto alleged that she was 16 years old when she was hired in 2006 with a monthly salary of P2,000.

The housemaid claimed that she was maltreated and made to work long hours. She added that she was sometimes deprived of food and was forced to eat dog food to survive.

In January 2009, Bacanto claimed she was allowed to go home after working for the family for two years and seven months, allegedly without a salary.

The Department of Justice?s Task Force on Women and Children Protection, in a resolution, found probable cause against the Tanenglians and filed the case in court.

In its resolution, the DOJ said there was probable cause to indict the Tanenglians based on Bacanto?s claims.

The family claimed Bacanto?s allegations were doubtful as these were general statements and not definite as to when the acts were supposedly committed.