A Quezon City court on Friday started hearings on the petition for bail of a couple accused of maltreating their household helper.

 

Reynold and Analiza Marzan had sought bail on the charges of serious illegal detention against them, radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported.

 

The Marzans are being detained in separate facilities in Quezon City, after being charged by their former helper Bonita Baran.

 

At Friday's hearing, prosecutors opposing bail for the couple presented as their witness, former helper Evalyn Tanael, who worked for the couple briefly in 1999.

 

Tanael had said she was also maltreated by the Marzans when she worked for them.

 

But the defense opposed Tanael's taking the witness stand, saying she was not in the Marzan household from 2009 to 2012, when the supposed maltreatment of Baran took place.

 

Prosecution lawyers are to present Baran's sister Olivia on October 1, the report said.

 

On Thursday, Analiza was arraigned before the Quezon City court on charges of serious physical injury. She entered a plea of not guilty.

 

Last Monday, the couple was also arraigned before a Quezon City court, and similarly pleaded not guilty. — RSJ, GMA News