Let's not prejudge 'Pamela' - Sotto

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III yesterday downplayed the account given by a Panamanian embassy official of an alleged rape case filed against him by a Filipina, saying his story did not prove that the rape never happened.

Sotto slammed the claims made by Erick Bairnals Shcks that he had consensual sex with the Filipina and that “she never acted like she does not want it.”

In a bid to bolster his claims, Shcks provided a copy of footage taken from a closed-circuit television camera of the condominium building in Makati City where he stayed while he was in the country.

The footage showed Shcks and the alleged rape victim identified as “Pamela” entering the building, and kissing inside the elevator.

Various reactions emerged after reports of Shcks side came out yesterday, including some casting doubts on Pamela’s story and portraying her as someone who was far from being innocent.

“Colonial mentality is still with us. We believe a foreigner more than we believe a Filipina who made a sworn statement that she was raped and went through the hassle of filing a case in court,” Sotto said after hearing about the reactions from various sectors.

“Would Panama have the same reaction if a Filipino was accused of rape in Panama?” he added.

Sotto, who delivered a sponsorship speech about the failure of the authorities to hold Shcks accountable for the alleged rape, said that the story of embassy official failed to debunk several parts of Pamela’s sworn statement.

“If no rape transpired, why did the accused leave the country immediately? Why did he get the Filipina drunk and smoke marijuana before the criminal act was committed? Does it mean that when Filipinas kiss, they are soliciting to be raped? Why did not the diplomat escort the Filipina to get a cab after the incident?” Sotto said.

“It is unfortunate that the whole system, the government, our own Departments of Foreign Affairs and Justice, and their offices, have joined the chorus against the victim rather than hear her story first. The CCTV showing the Filipina kissing the accused is not proof that no rape transpired in the room,” he added.

Sotto, who also met with Pamela at his office earlier this week, cited the account of the girl of getting assurances from the diplomat that people would be coming over to the room so there would be nothing to worry about.

He pointed out that the video provided by Shcks showed that Pamela left the building on her own.

If the alleged rape did not happen, Sotto wondered why Shcks did not escort Pamela to the lobby and help her get a cab.