First the wife, now the husband.

The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights has cited in contempt Pablo Ruiz, the husband of France Ruiz, who had been cited earlier. Both are now detained in the Senate premises.

The couple had been summoned by the Senate for allegedly abusing their household help, Elvie Vergara.

During Monday's fourth marathon hearing by the Senate panel investigating the alleged abuse, Senator Raffy Tulfo cited the family patriarch in contempt.

Tulfo made the motion to cite Pablo for allegedly lying to lawmakers when he denied new testimony that further  implicated the couple in the physical abuse case. Senator Jinggoy Estrada seconded Tulfo's motion.

Pablo was detained in the Senate premises along with his wife, France, who was cited in contempt last week for the same reason.

Meanwhile, three more witnesses, namely, Melinda Magno, Richard Pinto, and one  alias Paopao," said they will corroborate Vergara's claim that she was abused by the couple.

Senator Francis Tolentino, who chairs the Senate panel, ensured the safety of the new witnesses.

"Let us make sure that while we are conducting hearings, and even after, no harm will come to them. They came here to reveal the truth," Tolentino said.

To recall, Jay-ar Suarez Dimerez, alias "Dodong," the star witness in the case, was attacked by unknown gunmen at his residence after he came out to accuse the Ruiz couple of abusing Vergara.