A Panamanian diplomat accused of raping a 19 year-old girl in Makati City was declared Persona Non Grata by the Department of Foreign Affairs last Saturday.

This after the Panama Government decided not to waive the immunity of accused Mr. Erick Bairnals Shcks, a member of the administrative and technical staff of the Panamanian Embassy in the Philippines.

In a statement, the DFA said Ambassador of Panaman Roberto Carlos Vallarino delivered a note to the department late afternoon of May 11 and conveyed that the Panamanian Government decided not to wait their national's immunity.

According to Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Shcks should be recalled or terminated of his functions by the Panamanian Government, the DFA said.

"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 added.

Schcks was arrested on April 24 after the police received a complaint from his alleged Filipina victim. He allegedly forced the 19-year-old woman to sniff drug before raping her in his apartment on April 23.*