Zubiri wants ‘harsh penalties’ for Philippine envoy to Brazil over alleged maltreatment of Pinay maid

Published October 30, 2020 3:13pm By DONA MAGSINO, GMA News Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Friday said Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro should be removed from her post for violating several Philippine laws when she allegedly maltreated a Filipina domestic helper in her diplomatic residence. Republic Act No. 10361 or the "Batas Kasambahay," the Revised Penal Code, and Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees were some of the laws that may be used in filing charges against the envoy, Zubiri told reporters in an online interview. The senator also mentioned that the daughter of the maltreated maid vowed that her mother is willing to file an affidavit detailing the abuse that she experienced at the hands of Mauro. "'Yung commitment galing sa anak... 'Yung anak ay nagbanggit po sa amin, nailagay niya po sa Facebook page namin when she replied back that after the [self-] quarantine, the mother is very willing na magbigay ng affidavit sa pangyayari doon sa kaniya doon sa Brazil," Zubiri said, adding that many advocacy groups are mulling to file charges against Mauro. "The video will never lie. The truth is as clear as day dito sa video," he added. "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," he said. "She should no longer hold an ambassadorial post at this point in time at saka mahihirapan na rin po siya... Hindi na rin po kami [members of the Commission on Appointments] papayag na i-repost siya sa ibang bansa at this point in time after what she has done," he added. Mauro has already been recalled by the Department of Foreign Affairs after she was caught assaulting her maid on CCTV. The footage was aired by a media outlet in Brazil. The domestic helper, on the other hand, is already with her family in Cotabato, according to Zubiri. 'Philippine laws applicable' Zubiri said that though the alleged maltreatment was committed in Brazil, the Philippine laws he mentioned earlier would still apply. "Kasi 'yung embassy is an extension of our country. The Philippine Embassy and its residence is an extension of Philippine territory kaya yung nilabag niya ay talagang pasok," he said. "Kung hindi po ambassador si Ambassador Mauro at nangyari po 'yan sa isang area diyan sa Brazil, baka kulong po siya ngayon under Brazilian law," he added. An apology would not suffice to settle the issue, according to the senator. "She has to be punished in terms of the criminal and administrative cases that will be filed against her... kasi batas ang nalabag eh," he said. "No matter how high you are, no matter how powerful you are, patas lang dapat 'yan sa mata ng hustisya sa ating bansa," he added. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Friday said his department has started its preliminary investigation on the Philippine ambassador. "We have 15 days to report to the Presidential Management Staff. It starts NOW," Locsin said. — RSJ, GMA News

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