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SENATE Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Emmanuel Joel Villanueva sought a comprehensive investigation into the reported mistreatment of a Filipino domestic worker by the Philippine Ambassador to Brazil, Marichu Mauro.
Mauro, a career diplomat, was caught on CCTV mistreating her unidentified Filipino staff on several occasions.
“While watching the video, I was horrified to see the impudence of our ambassador to Brazil in physically mistreating the embassy service personnel,” Zubiri said in a statement. “I cannot imagine how people in their position could apply such violence to the very people they were sworn to protect. This is such a terrible incident and a black eye on our image abroad. “
“How can we demand that the foreign employers of our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), especially domestic workers, respect their rights and do not mistreat them, when the very people who are supposed to protect and defend them abroad are those who abuse them? he added.
The video was shown on the Brazilian news channel GloboNews on Sunday and was picked up by international news organizations. The images showed the victim being physically assaulted by Mauro.
Villanueva asked the Department of Foreign Relations (DFA) to prosecute the official “if he is found to be violating labor laws and the Kasambahay Law.”
Senators praised the swift action of Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. in calling Mauro to face investigations in the Philippines.
“There are only about 1,200 Filipinos in Brazil, such a small group, probably very united. Let’s make sure that this incident in no way encourages mistreatment and any feelings of insecurity among Filipinos in Brazil, ”Villanueva said.
The legislator also urged the DFA to examine existing grievance mechanisms in diplomatic posts to ensure that Filipinos have an immediate recourse “when incidents like this occur to avoid their repetition and escalation.”
“The DFA should re-verify if there is an active system that really works to provide protection to underage workers and any case of abuse and mistreatment does not go unchecked,” said Villanueva.
With reports from JAVIER JOE ISMAEL
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