DFA hit for granting immunity to rape suspect

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III yesterday criticized the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for allowing a Panamanian official to be released from jail despite being charged with raping a Filipina teenager.

“We’re helpless if our department itself is not helping us. The DFA itself is not concerned. They should have insisted that there should be no diplomatic immunity and that the (accused) should face trial,” Sotto said in a press conference yesterday.

The senator questioned why Erick Shcks, a technical officer of the Panama Maritime Authority, was given diplomatic immunity when such a privilege is given only to a head of state, heads of diplomatic missions such as ambassadors or nuncios, envoys, ministers or internuncios, and charges d’affairs.

Sotto noted that under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, the accused – being a technical officer – is considered a diplomatic agent and can only be immune from criminal, civil and administrative charges if he is exercising his official functions. Rape is obviously “beyond” Shcks’ official functions, he added.

When Congress resumes next week, Sotto said he will file a resolution urging the Senate committee on foreign relations to probe the alleged abuse in the issuance of diplomatic immunity to  Shcks.

Sotto said he will not hesitate to ask Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, as concurrent chairman of the Commission on Appointments, to put on hold the confirmation of all DFA executives until the agency acts on the controversy involving the Panamanian official.