DOJ moves awaited on suspect’s escape

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is awaiting the recommendations of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on what action to pursue in the reported escape of a German accused of killing three foreigners and a Filipina in Boracay last year.

DFA spokesman Gilberto Asuque said there is no existing extradition treaty between the Philippines and Germany so they have to explore other options in addressing the case.

According to reports, German Uwe Friesl had escaped to Bavaria, Germany, where he hails from, based on information coming from the German embassy in Manila.

The second secretary of the German embassy was quoted in a news report as saying that Friesl was spotted in Bavaria two months ago.

Friesl, along with four unidentified suspects, was accused of killing German Anton Forstenhausler, Swiss vineyard owner and art collector Manfred Schoeni, Hong Kong-based architect John James Cowperthwaite, and Forstenhausler’s Filipino maid, Erma Sarmiento, in Boracay in May last year.

The Aklan prosecutor’s office has filed murder charges against Friesl, and the Bureau of Immigration has placed him in its hold departure list.

Asuque said the location of a suspect has to be established first before any action can be taken, and this would most likely be done by the DOJ or the National Bureau of Investigation.

He said the NBI has contacts with the Interpol, with which they have consistently shared information in previous cases.

"We have to rely on what the DOJ will recommend... if we need to make representations with the government concerned," Asuque said.

He said the actions have to be done on a bilateral or government-to-government basis.

With an extradition treaty, the repatriation of an individual charged in court can easily be accomplished because there is already a well-defined system.

Friesl has claimed innocence on the accusations against him.