Former Philippine film actress Princess denies abusing maid

Manila: A former actress and scion of a local showbiz family had come out in the open and defended herself from accusations made by her maid.

Princess Revilla, sister of Senator and actor Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr, said the accusations against her by her maid were baseless and intended to malign her.

"I tried to remain silent over the controversy at first but when I saw that the accusations are already affecting my family, I decided to clarify the issue," she said.

Princess, who played bit roles as a child actress in her father Ramon Revilla Sr's films, had been accused by her maid of physically abusing her.

On Thursday, the maid filed criminal charges against Princess for abusing her as well as violating the law on the employment of minors.

The victim was 17 years old and is below the age allowed by law where she can be legally employed.

Testimony

During a press briefing where she was accompanied by her lawyer Raymund Fortun, Princess said she sacked her maid on March 26.

According to the testimony she had given to village officials in suburban Pasig, the victim was forced to vault a two metre high fence to escape from her raging employer after the incident on Wednesday.

Television footages aired by various networks showed the maid showing contusions and bruises she had suffered as a result of physical abuses she had suffered.

The incident involving Princess had been the second reported case where she had physically abused persons under her employ.