SEN. Francis Tolentino yesterday assured maltreated housemaid Elvie Vergara she will continue to have proper legal representation despite the resignation of lawyer Jovito Gambol as her legal counsel in the cases filed against her former employers.
In a radio interview, Tolentino said Gambol sent him a letter on Wednesday informing him that he was withdrawing as Vergara’s legal counsel.
“Mahaba po iyon at may mga paliwanag din siya pero baka bukas eh malaman ko ‘yung tunay na dahilan (The letter was long, it contained his explanation but maybe I will find out the real reason [today, Friday]),” Tolentino said.
Gambol’s resignation came after alias “Dodong,” a key witness in the Vergara case, was attacked by armed men inside the house of his new employer in Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday night.
Dodong was unhurt as one of the armed men only fired his gun at the floor. He is now under the protective custody of the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the province.
Tolentino said he has provided Vergara with a new legal counsel from the Philippine Legal Justice Center.
“Mayroon naman tayong Philippine Legal Justice Center na atin pong na-assign na mag collaborate po kaya may abogado po si Manang Elvie Vergara
(We have assigned a lawyer from the Philippine Legal Justice Center to collaborate with Manang Elvie Vergara. So, she still has a lawyer),” he said.
Vergara was the former maid of the Ruiz family, who lives in Occidental Mindoro.
Vergara reportedly experienced physical, verbal, and emotional abuse that also led to her blindness as a result of heavy injuries. Her case went viral on social media sites in August this year, prompting the Senate to investigate the case.
Criminal charges have been filed against the Ruiz family.
