Police hold Panamanian diplomat over rape accusation

MANILA, Philippines—A 35-year-old Panama national holding a diplomatic passport has been taken into police custody after a 19-year-old girl accused him of raping her during a date in Makati City on Monday night, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Wednesday.

Erick Bairnals Shcks was placed in CIDG custody even as Panama’s ambassador, Roberto Carlos Moreno, interceded on his behalf and sought his release, arguing that the man was protected by diplomatic immunity.

But the head of the CIDG Women and Children’s Protection Division, Superintendent Emma Libunao, said the CIDG would release the Panamanian only after the Department of Foreign Affairs has verified his identity and given them the go-signal.

As of Wednesday, it had not done so, she told reporters. But she added that the CIDG was prepared to turn the Panamanian over to the DFA.

Libunao said the incident occurred about 11 p.m. on April 23 when Shcks invited the girl over to his place after befriending her a few days earlier.

She said the Panamanian made her sniff a marijuana-like substance, rendering her almost unconscious, and then proceeded to rape her.

The alleged victim reported the crime to the CIDG Wednesday morning, and CIDG operatives caught up with the suspect at a McDonald’s branch in Makati City and arrested him.