Welfare group wants Italian envoy’s case moved to DOJ

AMBASSADOR Daniele Bosio in a photo taken from the official website of the Italian Embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A children’s welfare group assisting the alleged victims of an Italian diplomat has asked for the transfer of the preliminary investigation of the case from the Biñan City prosecutors office to the Department of Justice in Manila.

Prosecutor-General Claro Arellano, head of the DOJ-National Prosecution Service, said representatives of the Bahay Tuluyan Foundation Inc., which is helping the three boys allegedly abused by Italian envoy to Turkmenistan Daniele Bosio, sought the transfer of the venue of the preliminary investigation of the cases of human trafficking and child abuse.

“According to them, they can’t secure justice in Biñan as there have been reports of mounting pressure from Italian and local defense counsels,” Arellano explained in a text message to reporters.

The DOJ was still evaluating the request, he added.

The human trafficking and child-abuse cases filed against Bosio, 46, are currently being evaluated by city prosecutor Agripino Baybay.

Police arrested Bosio last April 5 at a resort in Biñan, Laguna. Bahay Tuluyan members, in their complaint to the police, said the diplomat picked up the boys—aged 9, 10 and 12—in Metro Manila and brought them to the place where he was staying.

Officials of the Bahay Tuluyan Foundation claimed that they saw the diplomat “touching and caressing” the children in the swimming pool.

After his arrest, the Italian foreign ministry announced Bosio’s suspension.

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Originally posted: 9:20 pm | Wednesday, April 30th, 2014