President Duterte has dismissed Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro for maltreating her Filipino household helper last year.
In his weekly public address, Duterte said he approved the recommendation to dismiss the former envoy only recently.
Aside from being dismissed from service, Mauro will also face the following penalties:
* Cancellation of eligibility
* Forfeiture of retirement benefits
* Perpetual disqualification from holding public office
* Bar from taking civil service examination
According to President Duterte, government officials should always remember that their wrongdoings will always hit them back.
"'Yan ho ang parusa niyo (That is your punishment). That's how it is," he said.
"I said there are rules to be followed. Kung ayaw mong sundin (If you don't want to follow the rules), you take the risk. If something goes wrong, it's gonna hit you," he added.
Brazil media GloboNews first aired videos in October last year showing Mauro hitting the head of her 51-year-old helper with her palm, twisting her ear, and throwing a mop at her inside Mauro's diplomatic residence.
Immediately after the backlash from the public, Mauro was recalled to Manila and was asked to explain the allegations. President Duterte had also given the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) the go signal to conduct an investigation on the matter.
Mauro was appointed as the country's ambassador to Brazil in February 2018. Before this, she was first assigned as consul general to the Philippine General Consulate in Milan, Italy.