Manila: A Panamanian embassy staff accused of raping a Filipina has been declared persona non grata by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) a day after he reportedly left the Philippines.
Thirty-five-year-old Erick Bairnals Shcks, a member of the Panamanian embassy's administrative and technical staff, slipped out of the country on Friday evening aboard a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to Amsterdam. Prior to this, Panamanian ambassador Roberto Carlos Vallarino sent a letter to Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario indicating that his government will not surrender the accused.
In an order declaring Shcks persona non grata, the DFA said the actions of the Panamanian diplomatic staff member are not acceptable to the Philippine government.
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez said they expect the Panamanian embassy to take action following the issuance of the Philippine government declaration.
"Should the embassy continue to refuse to take action after Shcks has been declared persona non grata, the Philippine government will not any more consider him as a member of the Panamanian embassy staff and will accordingly remove his diplomatic immunity and protection under the law," Hernandez said.
Guidelines
Shcks is a technical officer of the Panama Maritime Authority and holds a diplomatic passport.
The Panamanian had been accused by a 19-year-old Filipina of raping her inside his rented apartment in Makati City on April 23.
The incident also led Senator Vicente Sotto III to ask the government to establish clear guidelines involving foreigners who use diplomatic immunity as a shelter whenever they commit a crime overseas.
