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Solon wants House probe on ambassador's maltreatment of her household staff
Solon wants House probe on ambassador's maltreatment of her household staff
The chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs on Tuesday called for a congressional investigation into the alleged maltreatment received by a Filipina domestic worker from her employer, Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro.
TUCP Partylist Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza aired the proposal as the TUCP condemned Mauro’s behavior against a fellow Filipino while abroad.
The mistreatment of the 51-year-old household service worker was exposed in the Brazilian media when video clips surfaced showing Mauro beating her in their home.
"We in labor are utterly shocked at the behavior that was exhibited by Ambassador Marichu Mauro in the videos that were released. It is absolutely disgusting for a civil servant, and someone supposedly representing the interests of the Filipino people in a foreign country to so cavalierly beat and mistreat her employees,” said Mendoza.
He added: “And for what reason? Because she believes she is entitled to harm others who she may think to be in a lower station than her? “
“Our OFWs are hailed as our bagong bayani yet we cannot even protect them from abuse at the hands of our own diplomats!," said Mendoza.
Mauro has been recalled to home office and is now facing investigation by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Mendoza said Mauro’s actions should be investigated , adding that legal charges should also be filed if the envoy and others were involved in the “savage treatment “ of the domestic helper.
"There is abuse of our kapwa Filipino being done overseas, right under the very noses of our government! This is a very difficult situation, with the worker vulnerable and fearful for their job while in another country no less,” said Mendoza.
The administration lawmaker also called on government to further strengthen its “mechanisms for reporting” instances of abuse against Filipino workers.
“Should Ambassador Marichu Mauro be found guilty, she should be expelled from the foreign service. We are not tolerant of the abuse of workers, especially when we condemn the barbaric treatment our workers receive at the hands of their foreign employers," the party-list lawmaker stated.