MANILA – The household helper involved in maltreatment allegations against Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro will soon reveal the abuses she suffered, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said.
In an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source, Zubiri said Filipina household helper Leonila de Ocampo is now in “better spirits” after returning to Cotabato and will soon give her statement.
“She is happy that she’s home safe and sound, and she is very willing to give a statement to the Department of Foreign Affairs and an affidavit to itemize and put on record all the abuses done to her by Ambassador Mauro,” Zubiri said.
Brazilian news outlet Globo News earlier released a CCTV video footage showing Mauro hitting the head the Filipina household helper, who can be seen cowering in fear.
“She (Mauro) was caught red-handed. It’s horrible, no Filipino should go through this maltreatment,” said Zubiri, who admitted that he was horrified when he saw the now-viral compilation of CCTV footages.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said his office has started administrative proceedings after being given 15 days by President Rodrigo Duterte to report and has issued a show cause order against Mauro.
Locsin added that he has formed a fact-finding team led by Consul General Ezzedin Tago, who is assigned in Sydney, Australia, and Ambassador to the Netherlands Jaime Victor Ledda. Other panel members are DFA executives Narciso Castañeda and lawyer Ihna Alyssa Marie Santos of the agency’s human resources unit.
“If there’s prima facie case, I’ll issue a Formal Charge prepared by OTLA (Office of Treaties and Legal Affairs),” Locsin said in a Twitter post on Friday.
Locsin also explained that a presidential approval is needed before the DFA can conduct an investigation on ambassadors like Mauro. He will also make the final recommendation to the President regarding further action on Mauro’s case./PN
