Italian diplomat charged in court for sex abuse

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) National Prosecution Service in Biñan, Laguna, filed on Monday, May 26, charges against senior Italian diplomat Daniele Bosio for allegedly abusing 3 Filipino minors.

In a 12-page resolution, the  Biñan prosecutor’s office found probable cause to indict Bosio for 3 counts of violation of RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and 3 counts of violation of RA 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Person Act.

The charges were filed before the Biñan regional trial court, which set the bail for the violation of RA 7610 at P120,000 for each count. Trafficking, however, as outlined in RA 9208, is a non-bailable offense.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier said Bosio cannot invoke diplomatic immunity, because he was only visiting the Philippines and not on official duty when he allegedly committed the crime.

She said on Monday that Bosio cannot be immune from prosecution, as he is not a diplomat in the Philippines. Bosio is the Italian ambassador to Turkmenistan.

Bosio was caught at the Splash Island Resort in Biñan last April 5 in the company of the 3 boys he allegedly abused, after a child rights group reported him to authorities.

Supposedly on vacation in the Philippines at the time, Bosio was detained in a tiny cell at a Biñan police station after his arrest. (READ: ‘No special treatment’ for Italian diplomat)

Bosio allegedly bathed a 9-year-old and two 12-year-old boys, fondled their organs, and watched a pornographic video with them in his condominium unit in Eastwood, Quezon City

“While scrubbing their entire bodies, respondent only had a towel and his short pants on. Thereafter, respondent brought them to a swimming pool far away,” the DOJ resolution said.

In his defense, Bosio said the purpose in bringing the minors to Eastwood and later on to Splash Island in Biñan was not for sexual exploitation. Bosio sought for the dismissal of his case. 

The diplomat said he merely acted in the performance of his “social and moral duty” to afford the children their rights to play and recreation, as well as their basic rights to food, clothing and cleanliness.

Attached to Bosio’s counter-affidavit submitted to the DOJ in Biñan were the sworn statements of at least 30 students, mostly minors, who vouched for his integrity.

The witnesses were students from the Breakthrough Christian Academy (BCA), a church-owned learning institution providing free education to poor children in Barangay Bagong Silang, Quezon City.

Insisting the he is not a pedophile, Bosio cited a Psychiatric Report signed by Dr Ma Lourdes Rosanna De Guzman of the Philippine General Hospital. – Rappler.com