Ambassador Marichu Mauro should be axed, slapped with ‘harsh’ penalties- Zubiri

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri on Friday believes that Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro should be axed from her post and face “harsh” penalties after she was accused of maltreating her Filipino housekeeper.

“She should not hold an ambassadorial post at this point in time,” the senator said in an online interview with reporters.

Zubiri said Mauro might have violated three Philippine laws, namely Republic Act No. 10361 or the Domestic Workers Act, Article 266 of the Revised Penal Code or Slight Physical Injury and Maltreatment and Republic Act No. 6713  or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

“There is no justification for abusing a fellow Filipino, no justification to hurt someone,” he said.

Zubiri previously said Mauro would have difficulty being reassigned to another foreign posting because of what had happened.

“We must fix the image of our foreign service and the only way to do that is swift action and harsh penalties to be meted out to Ambassador Mauro,” Zubiri said.

“We will show the world that we would not tolerate this kind of behavior para hindi na po ito mangyari sa ibang bansa kung saan napakarami po nating OFW (overseas Filipino workers] na nagtatrabaho dun,” he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has now started its probe into the incident after it got the go-signal from President Rodrigo Duterte.

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.”

Mauro was recalled and ordered to return to Manila earlier this week to explain her side. [ac]