Duterte dismisses PH envoy accused of maltreating helper
President Duterte has dismissed Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro for maltreating her Filipino household helper last year.
In his weekly public address, Duterte said he approved the recommendation to dismiss the former envoy only recently.
Aside from being dismissed from service, Mauro will also face the following penalties: cancellation of eligibility; forfeiture of retirement benefits; perpetual disqualification from hold
ing public office; and prohibition to take civil service examination.
According to President Duterte, government officials should always remember that their wrongdoings will always hit them back.
"'Yan ho ang parusa niyo (That is your punishment). That's how it is," he said.
"I said there are rules to be followed. Kung ayaw mong sundin (If you don't want to follow the rules), you take the risk. If something goes wrong, it's gonna hit you," he added.
Brazil media GloboNews first aired videos in October last year showing Mauro hitting the head of her 51-year-old helper with her palm, twisting her ear, and throwing a mop at her inside Mauro's diplomatic residence.
Immediately after the backlash from the public, Mauro was recalled to Manila and was asked to explain the allegations. President Duterte had also given the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) the go signal to conduct an investigation on the matter.
Mauro was appointed as the country's ambassador to Brazil in February 2018. Before this, she was first assigned as consul general to the Philippine General Consulate in Milan, Italy.
‘Harsh decision’ – Locsin Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. described as “harsh” the decision of President Duterte to dismiss Mauro from the service after she was caught on video maltreating her household staffer.
In a tweet, Locsin admitted that the President upheld the earlier decision made by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) “to the letter” following an internal investigation conducted in November last year when Mauro was recalled from her post.
“It was a harsh decision affirming DFA’s decision and penalties to the letter against what was a fine diplomat. While her temper got the better of her in that case, she treated a self-important young diplomat the same way and his lousy character completely changed for the better,” he said. ‘A lesson to public officials’ – Go
In a related story, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go called the President’s decision as a lesson to all public officials.
“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 always to protect the lives and welfare of our people,” Go emphasized.
In an earlier statement, Go slammed Mauro's conduct and expressed support for domestic helpers and other overseas Filipinos, especially those who are victims of violence and cruelty abroad.
He offered assistance to the household staff member who returned to the Philippines from Brasilia, Brazil last October 21 and encouraged others to report to his office similar incidents and other forms of abuse.
Go, who is also a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, sternly reminded all public officials to strictly comply with the standards set forth in the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and other applicable standards, such as those in the Foreign Service Act.
Go then reiterated his push for the passage of his bill that seeks to establish the Department of Overseas Filipinos. (With reports from Roy Mabasa and Mario Casayuran)