RP consul clears name in maid's New Jersey case

A Filipino consul in San Francisco assured on Saturday there was no abuse of diplomatic privileges in the case involving her mother-in-law who pleaded guilty to restraint charges filed by a househelper he hired from the Philippines. In a statement sent to GMANews.TV, Anthony Mandap, consul of the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, clarified that he was not the one accused in the case. He said he requested Arlene Gado, his household helper, to assist his mother-in-law in taking care of her ailing husband “in keeping with our filial duties as Filipinos." “I was not aware of any problem that arose between them until Ms. Gado filed a complaint," he said. He also denied withholding Gado’s passport. “I took it back to San Francisco only last February—almost two years since Ms. Gado arrived—for the purpose of getting her visa renewed. Once I determined that there was no need to renew her visa (it was valid for the duration of my status as her employer), I sent it back to my in-laws immediately," he said. He added: “The allegations of human trafficking are absurd and grossly exaggerated." Mandap said while he believes in the innocence of his mother-in-law. The family decided it would be in her best interest to accept the plea offer as she could no longer withstand the rigors of trial due to her advanced age. He also said his mother-in-law also has to take care of her ailing husband. “The case, for all intents and purposes, is closed. My mother-in-law has pleaded guilty, and agreed to pay restitution. The state of New Jersey has also determined that there is no liability on the part of her other family members, including me. They have closed all investigation into the matter," he said. - AMITA LEGASPI, GMANews.TV