Senate wants abused helper Elvie Vergara under WPP —Tolentino

Senator Francis Tolentino on Wednesday disclosed they are eyeing to seek witness protection from the Department of Justice for 44-year-old helper Elvie Vergara who went partially blind after allegedly suffering abuse at the hands of her employers.

“'Yung kay Manang Elvie ay mayroon tayong paikot-ikot na security subalit…si Manang Elvie… e sinusubukan natin ngayon na ipasok sa Witness Protection Program (WPP). May proseso lang iyon,” Tolentino, who leads the Senate hearings into the Vergara’s abuse, said.

(We have a roving security for Manang Elvie but we are trying to put her under the Witness Protection Program. There is a process for that.)

According to the Senate justice and human rights panel chairman, Vergara can be covered by Senate’s protective custody but this will only apply as long as there are hearings on the matter.

“Puwede siyang itigil dito pero iyon ay hanggang sa mayroon lang tayo pagdinig. Mas malawak at malalim 'yung Witness Protection Program na batas na pinasa rin ng Senado,” he said.

(She can stay here but only while we are conducting hearings. The Witness Protection Program, a law passed by the Senate, is more extensive.)

Meanwhile, Tolentino said the witness on the case of Vergara is now in the custody of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

“Si alyas Dodong ngayon ay nasa CIDG at siya ay secured sa kamay ng CIDG sa Mindoro Oriental sa Calapan kasi nandoon ang tanggapan ng CIDG,” he said.

(Alyas Dodong is now secured with the CIDG in Mindoro Oriental.)

Recently, an unidentified gunman fired shots at the house of Dodong, the witness in the case Vergara.

According to Paluan Police chief Police Major Rodrigo Borlado Jr., the perpetrator forcibly entered the house of the witness, shot at the direction of the witness twice, and fled.

Police said the perpetrator was possibly intimidating the witness in the case.

Authorities are still working on identifying the perpetrator, who was reportedly wearing a bonnet during the shooting incident.

Tolentino said Dodong was scheduled to testify before the Senate panel against the employers of Vergara.

“Si Alyas Dodong ay tetestigo na nasaksihan niya 'yung pagmamaltrato kay Elvie Vergara. Siya 'yung tetesigo (Alias Dodong will testify on the abuse received by Elvie Vergara),” he said.

Another witness is set to testify before the Senate committee but Tolentino did not disclose the identity.

“Mayroon pang isang testigo na aming nakuha na susubukan na rin namin protektahan ngayon pero hindi ko pa mabanggit. Itong testigong ito ay hindi lang nasaksihan ‘yung marahas at malupit na pagtrato kay Manang Elvie kung hindi siya mismo ay nakaranas din ng ganon,” the senator said.

(We found another witness who we are also trying to protect. I cannot identify the witness yet. This witness not only saw the violent and brutal treatment received by Manang Elvie. This witness experienced it as well.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News