PH declares Panamanian diplomat in rape case ‘persona non grata’

Panamanian Erick Bairnals Shcks and Panama Ambassador to the Philippines Roberto Carlos V. Moreno check in at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 Friday night. Shcks is accused of allegedly raping a 19-year-old Filipina. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs has declared the Panamanian diplomat accused of raping a 19-year-old Filipina persona non grata (PNG).

The DFA’s decision came after the department received late Friday afternoon a Note from the Panamanian government saying that it has decided not to waive the immunity of Erick Bairnals Shcks, a member of the administrative and technical staff of the Panamanian Embassy.

The DFA said Saturday that the Note was delivered by Panama Ambassador Roberto Carlos Vallarino.

“In accordance with Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Mr. Shcks should be recalled or terminated of his functions by the Panamanian Government. If no action is taken by the Panamanian Government within a reasonable period of time after he was declared as PNG, the Philippine Government will cease to recognize Mr. Shcks as a member of the Embassy and will accordingly be stripped of his immunities,” the DFA said in a statement.

This decision declaring him as PNG was immediately conveyed to the Department of Justice for appropriate action, it added.