DOJ pushes raps vs. Italian envoy for molesting minors

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended the filing of child abuse charges against Italian diplomat Daniele Bosio.

Chief Prosecutor Agripino Baybay III of the Biñan, Laguna prosecutor's office said in a radio report Monday that there is probable cause to indict Bosio for molesting three Filipino minors.

Bosio faces three counts of violating the the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and three counts for breaching the Anti-Trafficking of Persons Act.

The envoy was arrested in a resort in Laguna in April.

Child rights group Bahay Tuluyan Foundation alerted Biñan police after seeing Bosio sharing the swimming pool with the boys of ages 9, 10 and 12. The children were said to be residents of Manila.

"We were concerned, because it was obvious that he was not related to the children," Flordelis said. "We only found out later that he is a diplomat," Bahay Tuluyan Foundation executive director Lily Flordelis had said in a television interview.

Bosio had denied the charges in the arraignment earlier this month.