THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday said it will investigate a complaint filed by a domestic helper against a top Philippine diplomat for alleged maltreatment.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Charles Jose said the department will seriously take the complaint leveled against ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre, the Philippines the Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Milagros Braza has sought the help of migrant worker advocacy group Blas F. Ople Policy Center, who claimed to suffered verbal abuses and was forced to work to the official’s other relatives without extra pay.
“We have taken note of this and of course we take this matter very seriously,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose told reporters.
Jose they have already refer the matter to the appropriate office to look into the complaint but he said the DFA would ask Yparraguirre to explain her side.
“It is also important that we get the side of our own people on this issue,” Jose said during a press conference.
“The matter has also been referred to the DFA Human Resource department, which will make the appropriate action on Yparraguirre, a seasoned career diplomat and a lead negotiator for the Philippines-United States negotiations on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement in Manila and Washington DC,” Jose said.
“We have just referred this so we will see what action our personnel office will take regarding this matter,” Jose said.
In her complaint letter, Braza said she was thrown out of the ambassador’s residence on Christmas Day in 2015, and forced to work for the official’s other relatives with no extra pay. She also claimed to be have been verbally abused by Yparraguirre.