Couple who ‘tortured, blinded’ maid no-show

The couple who allegedly locked up and tortured their housemaid until she went blind did not show up at Wednesday’s preliminary investigation in the Quezon City prosecutor’s office despite receipt of a subpoena.

Public Attorney’s Office chief lawyer Persida Acosta said Reynold and Analiza Marzan should be barred from leaving the country in view of the criminal complaints filed by Bonita Baran, 21.

The Marzans, listed in the complaints as residents of Las Villas del Cielo on Visayas Avenue, Quezon City, were supposed to face assistant city prosecutor Ronald Torrijos at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Citing their absence, Acosta called for the immediate resolution of the complaints and the filing of cases in court. Baran sued the couple for attempted murder, physical injuries and illegal detention on Aug. 2.

“The resolution could come in five to 10 days. As soon as the cases reach the court, arrest warrants could be issued against them,” the PAO chief told the Inquirer.

According to Torrijos, the couple received the subpoena on Monday.

Contrary to a report (not in the Inquirer), they were not among the families displaced by recent floods in the city, but they had a history of frequently changing addresses, Torrijos added, citing information coming from Acosta.

Baran, who attended the proceedings, said in Filipino: “They should face the consequences of what they did. They should be jailed for making me suffer so much.”

Speaking to reporters, the PAO chief said she had written Justice Secretary Leila de Lima requesting the couple’s inclusion in the Bureau of Immigration’s watchlist.

Acosta also spoke of plans to inform foreign embassies about the couple’s cases, adding: “This would make it difficult for them to apply for travel visas.”