SENATOR BACKS SACKING OF ABUSIVE ENVOY
SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Tuesday backed the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to sack Philippine ambassador to Brazil, Marichu Mauro, for maltreating her staff.
The Department of Foreign Affairs recommended Mauro’s dismissal after concluding its investigation on the reported maltreatment and abuse of a Filipino embassy household staff. The fact-finding team concluded that Mauro had inflicted physical harm on her household staff on several occasions.
The President said that Mauro will be slapped accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from holding public office, among others.
“I hope that this serves as a lesson to all public officials that we will not tolerate any form of abuse of power. As the President always emphasized, our duty is to protect the lives and welfare of our people,” Go said.
“Walang sinuman ang may karapatan mang-abuso ng kapwa. Lalo na kung trabaho ninyo bilang ambassador na protektahan ang kapwa ninyong Pilipino. Hindi namin ito palalampasin ni Pangulong Duterte (Nobody has the right to abuse his/ her fellowmen. Especially when it is your mandate as ambassador to protect your fellow Filipino. President Duterte and I will not tolerate this),” he added.
The senator reminded concerned authorities to make sure that justice is served and the accused is made to face the consequences of her actions to the fullest extent of the law.
“Bagamat marami tayong hinaharap na problema ngayon, lalo na sa gitna ng isang pandemya, huwag din nating kalimutan ang mga iba pang isyu na dapat maresolba. Maraming nag-aantay ng hustisya (While we are now facing many problems, especially amidst the pandemic, we should not also forget other issues that need to be resolved. Several people await justice to be rendered),” Go said.
The senator earlier offered assistance to Mauro’s staff who returned to the country in October last year. He encouraged others who experienced the same kind of abuse to come forward.