Panama Canard

We were nearly hoodwinked by the Ambassador.  When a 35-year old Panamanian national by the name of Erick Bairnals Shcks was accused of rape by a fiery 19-year- old lass, the Ambassador of Panama didn’t hesitate to intervene.

After girl cried rape, and Shcks got the shock of his life when he was arrested at a McDonalds, Shcks produced what he probably thought was a trump card: a Panamanian passport with the word “diplomat” boldly stamped on it.  Perhaps he thought the police were going to be cowed into releasing him immediately. Nothing like a foreigner to awaken both respect and deference in the native populace.  Or maybe he thought that the cops were going to be too ignorant to question his claim.  But that didn’t prove to be enough: the police didn’t buy it.  So, I guess he had no choice but to call a friend.

Enter the good Ambassador.  Brandishing the magic words ‘diplomatic immunity,’ Ambassador Roberto Carlos Moreno is reported as having actually gone to the police station and attempting to spring Shcks out of jail.  (“Released unto his custody” is the nice term for it, although really, once Shcks lands into the Ambassador’s arms, you think we can ever get the Ambassador to produce Shcks again to ever face trial?)

It’s a good thing the police were cautious.  Or they didn’t know what to do.  Either way, they checked with the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the DFA came back with the verdict that Shcks is only some sort of technical officer.  Therefore, not allowed to leave until bail can be posted (that is, if the judge lets him.) Aww shucks.

Which brings us to the question, what is an Ambassador doing using his diplomatic privilege, his stature, and his power to claim diplomatic immunity for a guy who isn’t entitled to it?  Isn’t this an abuse of the privilege?  We’re nice enough to extend respect, hospitality, and friendship to diplomats who come here to strengthen economic and political ties, but that isn’t a license for them to come and screw us (both figuratively and forcefully).

And why do we need an Ambassador from Panama in this country anyway?  What interests is he seeking to protect in this country?  The sale of Panama hats?  Our continuing use of the Panama Canal?  If he were a real friend of this country, maybe he can offer to block Chinese ships from passing through the canal until they leave the Scarborough shoals and acknowledge our sovereignty, and maybe that would justify his presence in this country.  But if all he’s going to do is let middle-aged nationals avail of diplomatic immunity when they aren’t entitled to it, perhaps we don’t need him in this country.

So what do we do about this? Persona non grata would be a good start.  (And this is the real application of the term.  Too often we hear of local elders proclaiming offending individuals, like Claire Danes after she described Manila as cockroach-infested, as persona non grata when they can’t really enforce the ban).  Our President should have this Ambassador recalled – he has no business in this country if he’s here seeking to thwart Philippine justice.

Let Panama send a new representative, one who can act responsibly and be cognizant of Philippine sensibilities. Someone like US Ambassador Harry Thomas, Jr. for example, who has been at the forefront of protecting Philippine women from sex tourists and white slavery.   Not like the Ambassador, who doesn’t seem like he’s even digested the seriousness of the allegations. 

I mean, come on, look at the characters.  On one side, you have a girl still in her teens, barely legal, who claims she passed out after taking a marijuana-like substance, before she was herself taken.  On the other, a man nearly twice her age, a foreigner, who is connected to an embassy.  Then you add to the mix the sensitivities of a country who saw just saw American servicemen accused of rape be acquitted. Now tell me it makes sense to brandish diplomatic immunity for someone who isn’t himself an Ambassador. 

It has been less than a year since the Ambassador presented his credentials to President Aquino. (Check out the video on YouTube).  The man is wearing a beautiful barong, with intricate detailing embroidered on the fabric.   Let’s see if he gets the chance to wear it again.