Maid in abuse case seeks almost P2M in damages from QC couple

MANILA, Philippines–The housemaid, whose alleged maltreatment by her former employers caused her blindness, has asked for close to P2 million in damages from the persons allegedly responsible for her condition.

In a supplemental sworn statement, written in Filipino and submitted along with the prosecution’s pretrial brief at the Quezon City regional trial court branch 77, Bonita Baran said she has lost all chances of being hired as a housemaid when she was allegedly maltreated by couple Reynold and Anna Liza Marzan.

She claimed she has lost P1.179 million of earnings as a house helper as a result of her blindness and sought P400,000 in moral damages and another P400,000 by way of exemplary damages.

Baran stated that the amount for moral damages would represent the agony she suffered for on having been detained for three years, from 2009 to 2012, by the Marzan couple in their home at Las Villas del Cielo in Visayas Avenue and subjected to beatings.

The P400,000 for exemplary damages, she said, was intended to discourage others from emulating the couple’s alleged crime.

Addressing Quezon City regional trial court branch 77 Judge Germano Francisco Legaspi, Baran said, “I want the court to know that no amount of money can compensate the suffering and anguish in my heart and mind. My blindness is something that I and my family will carry all our lives.”

She further stated, “I can no longer help out my family, instead, I have become a burden to them because I can no longer do the only job that I know because of my poor education, being a housemaid.”

Baran concluded: “The amount (P1.979 million) I am asking, which is according to the law, will not be enough compensation but I am leaving to the court the decision to set the amount rightfully due me for my suffering.”

During Monday morning’s pretrial conference, defense lawyer Joel Ferrer asked for a chamber conference to possibly settle the civil aspect of the case based on Baran’s supplemental affidavit asking for the P1.979 million.

A chamber conference is a closed door meeting, specifically held where there is no chance of a successful mediation in a case, between the parties to the suit where plea bargains are made in the presence of the court judge.

Ferrer likewise asked that the prosecution of the case be left to trial prosecutor Ulric Badiola based on an order of prosecutor general Claro Arellano which bars the Public Attorney’s Office from acting as Baran’s private counsel.

Judge Legaspi said he has received a Dec. 26, 2012 letter from Arellano to the effect and clarified in open court that at the outset, he has not recognized the PAO as an active prosecutor in the case but cannot prevent the agency from being at the courtroom as it was a public hearing. He granted the request for a chamber conference.

Following the chamber conference, Ferrer told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Baran had said she has to discuss and consult the almost P2 million settlement with members of her family, as well as the PAO before making her decision.

“She (Baran) did not refuse outright but said she has to talk it out first with her family,” the lawyer said, adding that Baran had promised to decide in April.