Palace: Dismissed envoy to Brazil gets life ban from gov’t service for maltreating help

Dismissed Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro has been perpetually banned from public office and will not receive retirement benefits as a result of her committing physical abuse against her household help, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Roque made the announcement less than 24 hours after President Rodrigo Duterte announced Mauro’s dismissal.

“Bukod po sa pagkasibak, forfeited ang kanyang mga retirement benefits, at hinding hindi na sya makakabalik sa serbisyo sa gobyerno,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.

“Iyan ang kanyang parusa sa pagmamalupit sa kanyang kasambahay,” Roque added.

Mauro’s physical abuse of her household help, who is also a Filipino, was caught on a video that has since gone viral.

Mauro had been the Philippine envoy to Brazil since March 2016 and had been in foreign service since February 1995.

Despite Mauro’s dismissal, Department of Foreign Affairs chief Teodoro Locsin, Jr. described her as a fine diplomat.

“It was a harsh decision affirming DFA's decision and penalties to the letter against what was a fine diplomat,” he said.

“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,” Locsin added. — BM, GMA News