Italian envoy shares cell with over 100 inmates

MANILA, Philippines - The Italian diplomat who was arrested for alleged child trafficking in Laguna last week is sharing his detention cell at the Biñan City police station with over 100 inmates.

Biñan City police chief Superintendent Noel Bong Alino on Thursday said Daniel Bosio is treated as an ordinary inmate as he mingles with other detainees.

Alino said there are over 100 inmates in two jail cells but “detainees come and go” as some of them are ordered released by the court.

“The condition in our jail is better than other jails since the building is relatively new. The inmates also have their own comfort room,” Alino told The STAR.

He said Bosio, Italian ambassador to Turkmenistan,  is visited frequently by his lawyers since the alleged human trafficking charge against him is undergoing preliminary investigation at the Prosecutor’s Office.

Last Wednesday, Laguna police director Senior Superintendent Romulo Sapitula said investigators and staff of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) had located in Caloocan City the guardians of two of the three minors found in the company of Bosio.

“The guardians were brought to the minors who are currently at the DSWD center in Laguna but they denied knowing the activities of the boys,” Sapitula told The STAR.

He said the police will conduct further investigation on the guardians.

“If evidence would warrant that they gave consent to the Italian to bring the boys with him, they will be included in the charges,” Sapitula said.

Meanwhile, the DSWD yesterday said they are acting on the alleged child trafficking case against Bosio.

“Our concern is the children. We cannot discuss the case at length. We want to ensure that we have a tight case,” said Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman.

The Council on the Welfare of Children said they have yet to get the complete report of the Biñan police’s women and children protection center on the arrest of the diplomat. – With Rainier Allan Ronda