MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has opened an investigation into the alleged abusive conduct of Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro towards her Filipino household helper.
In a series of tweets Friday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he has constituted a fact-finding team following the go signal from President Rodrigo Duterte.
The DFA would have 15 days to submit a report to the President Management Staff, according to Locsin.
“I received Presidential Directive no. 2020-196 directing the DFA to investigate the alleged abusive conduct of the Philippine Ambassador to Brazil confirming his verbal authorization; we have 15 days to report to the Presidential Management Staff,” the foreign affairs secretary said in one of his tweets.
I constituted a Fact-Finding Team with Team Leaders Consul General Ezzedin H. Tago, Sydney PCG, Jaime B. Ledda CM1, Narciso T. Castañeda BAC, and Atty. Ihna Alyssa Marie Santos, FSO IV, HRMO. Administrative proceeding initiated by Show Cause Order. HRMO conducts
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) October 30, 2020
“[The] presidential approval… triggers the formation of the hearing panel which shall submit a report to the Board of Foreign Service Administration which shall submit its recommendation to the Secretary who shall submit HIS recommendation to the President. It starts NOW,” he explained.
Under Section 51 of the Foreign Service Act, “Chiefs of Mission who are commissioned by the President as ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary shall not be investigated by the Board [of Foreign Service Administration] or separated from the service unless there is an express written directive from the President.”
Locsin said the DFA’s Human Resource Management Office will be conducting a preliminary investigation.
He added that the report of that probe will be submitted to him.
“If there’s [a] prima facie case, I issue a Formal Charge prepared by OTLA (Office of Treaties and Legal Affairs),” Locsin said.
Earlier this week, Locsin recalled Mauro after Brazilian news outlet GloboNews released video footage where Mauro appeared to be maltreating her household help multiple times on different occasions inside her residence.