President Duterte fires envoy caught in video maltreating helper
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has approved the dismissal from service of the Philippine ambassador to Brazil who was caught in video last year physically abusing her household helper.
During his weekly public address on COVID-19 response, President Duterte said he recently signed the order relieving Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro from service.
“Iyong ambassador doon sa Brazil who maltreated a household helper, ito repeatedly inflicted physical harm doon sa tao. I signed the document affirming the decision. The decision metes out the penalty of dismissal from the service,” the President said.
Aside from removal from service, the penalty comes with cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and being barred from taking Civil Service examination.
“Iyan ang parusa niya. So... That’s how it is. I said there are rules to be followed. Kung ayaw mong sundin, you take the risk. If something goes wrong, it’s gonna hit you,” President added.
Mauro was recalled to the Philippines last year after video footages surfaced in Brazil showing the Filipino envoy physically assaulting her 51-year-old household helper.
President Duterte asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to investigate Mauro’s conduct with the department eventually filing formal charge against the ambassador last November.
Prior to Mauro’s appointment to Brazil in 2018, she served as consul general at the Philippine Consulate General in Milan, Italy, and was also posted in Belgium. PND
