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Ni ROMEO ALLAN BUTUYAN II
DON’T abuse Filipino hospitality! Ito ang mariing tinuran ni House Deputy Majority Leader at Tingog partylist Rep. Jude Acidre, kasabay ng babala sa nakaambang pagpapalayas sa mga abusadong foreign diplomats.
Ani Acidre, walang puwang sa Pilipinas ang mga katalamapasan na aniya’y sapat na dahilan para parusahan at palayasin batay sa umiiral na batas ang hindi tinukoy na Chinese Embassy officials.
“It’s only reasonable that people who abuse our hospitality and abuse the privileges that are accorded in goodwill should also be sent home,” matalim na pahayag ni Acidre na tumatayong chairman ng House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs matapos atasan ni Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla ang National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) na imbestigahan ang illegal wiretapping ng Chinese Embassy officials.
Garantiya ni Acidre, suportado ng Kamara ang posisyon ni Remulla.
Una nang nagpasaring si Remulla na bagamat may pribilehiyo at immunity ang foreign diplomats dito sa Pilipinas, dapat batid ng mga opisyales ng embahada ang kalakip na responsibilidad, at respeto sa batas ng sinisulungang bansa.
“To make it simple, diplomats are guests of our country. While they have their own privileges and immunity, it still boils down to the reality that they are guests of the receiving country,” hirit pa ng partlist solon.
“In fact, they cannot exercise any of those diplomatic immunities until they are officially received by the host state. So, I think we cannot argue against that and in that light, we are supporting the statement of the Justice Secretary in that regard,” dugtong pa ng kongresista.
Maging si 1-Rider Partylist Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, sang-ayon sa posisyon nina Acidre at Remulla na “diplomatic immunity is not absolute.”
“Upon acceptance by the host country, it comes with conditions. Even then, for any reason whatsoever, there are still penalties that the executive branch can impose,” bungad ni Gutierrez.
“Whether or not there would be criminal culpabilities, the executive is free to exercise expulsion or to urge the host country to pursue a criminal prosecution in their country,” aniya pa.
Samantala, duda naman si Gutierrez na may naganap na pakikipag-usap sa pagitan ng ng isang Chinese diplomat at ranking military official ng Pilipinas.
Gayunpaman, nanindigan si Gutierrez na hindi pa rin legal ang pag-uusap – kung meron man.
“If it might have been even a personal conversation, if it is even true, then it might possibly not be covered by diplomatic immunity.”
