Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has sought the issuance of an arrest warrant against the employer-couple of a maltreated domestic helper who was rendered nearly blind due to their alleged repeated physical abuses.
“The committee has no choice but to issue an order of arrest against them,” Estrada said, referring to Annaliza Marzon and her husband Reynold after presiding over the hearing of the committee on labor and employment where the couple were a no-show anew.
The Marzan couple, the supposed employers of househelp Bonita Baran, failed to attend the proceedings even after they have sought to be excused from the previous one last week.
“Well, I’ve already cancelled the hearing last week because I was informed that will not be able to attend last week’s hearing. So I re-scheduled it for this afternoon’s hearing. But unfortunately again, they failed to attend,” the senator said.
Estrada added the couple have sent word to the committee secretary through their lawyer, Jess Fernandez, that they will appear this time, the reason why they proceeded with the holding of inquiry.
“The lawyer, Atty. Fernandez, gave the assurance that he will bring his clients,” the senator said.
Supposedly, Annaliza who allegedly subjected the 21-year-old Baran numerous times to harrowing experience of physical abuse that now left the latter half blind and distorted face, supposedly passed out earlier in the day and had to be rushed to a hospital.
But when asked by Estrada which hospital, the lawyer claimed he did not know where his client was confined.
They have to present the medical certificate. And I doubt (if they could present to me one at the next hearing). According to the lawyer, Mrs. Marzan fainted supposedly yet he does not know the hospital, the name of the doctor, her (Annaliza) whereabouts,” he said.
Unless the lower courts where Baran already filed criminal cases issue the same and managed to first get hold of the couple, Estrada said he will defer to the jurisdiction of the court and put on hold the Senate process servers in implementing the  warrant sought by the labor committee to be signed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
“If they will be arrested, I will just abide by the jurisdiction of the court,” he said.
At the hearing, the Marzans’ lawyer denied the charges of Baran, even claiming before the Estrada committee the allegations of the couple that it was the supposed victim who inflicted harm on herself such as burning herself with a hot iron.
He said the couple also claimed Baran liked to bite ice cubes which damaged her teeth.
“Can you believe that?” asked Estrada.  
“It’s not believable. Unbelievable, nakita mo naman ang mga sagot ng abogado niya na si Mrs. Marzan daw ang nagsabi through an interview na si Bonita pa raw ang nag-plantsa sa sarili niyang mukha. It’s a crazy defense. Unbelievable!”  Estrada said.