Isabelle Daza raises funds for Elvie Vergara, a helper who was allegedly abused by employers
Isabelle Daza is not only known for her talent in acting and being a hands-on mom but also for her heart of gold.
Isabelle on Friday, Sept. 8 took to her Instagram account to announce that she is raising funds for Elvie Vergara, a house help in Occidental Mindoro who was allegedly abused by her employers and has become partially blind.
“[Elvie] Vergara is a domestic helper who has been allegedly physically, mentally, and verbally abused by her employers so much that she has been blinded in both eyes. She is currently going to have an operation in one of her eyes to try to recover her sight, but the outcome is unsure,” she said on the GoGetFunding page.
The podcaster added that Elvie's P5,000 salary has been withheld and that she and the government are "trying to help her get it back."
“I am raising funds for her to be able to live her life free from this abuse, without having to worry about what she will eat the next day or if she has enough money to live with basic needs like housing, food, and medical assistance,” she added. "I will make sure she receives this cash personally and not through anyone or any org. Thank you for helping."
Isabelle, in the caption, thanked those who donated, including fellow celebrities Solenn Heussaff, Anne Curtis, mom Gloria Diaz, Hayden Kho and Vicki Belo, and Iza Calzado, among others.
The donations are over P715,675 as of this writing, exceeding the P300,000 goal.
During a Senate briefing in August, it was revealed that Elvie sustained injuries and became partially blind after her employers Pablo and France Ruiz allegedly maltreated her by repeatedly kicking, punching, and banging her head.
Elvie and the couple appeared before the Senate committee on Sept. 5, where the latter denied the abuse, saying the scars were self-inflicted or caused by fighting with other house helpers.
“‘Yung mga sugat niya po, tamad po siya maligo minsan. Minsan inaabot ng apat na araw, limang araw siya maligo. Tapos po, ‘yung mga sugat-sugat niya po na ‘yan, nakakamot niya po,” said France.
She also claimed that Elvie stole money from them.
Elvie sued the couple for various cases, including Serious Illegal Detention, Human Trafficking, Serious Physical Injuries, and breaches of the Kasambahay Law.