DFA to diplomats: Use diplomatic plates properly

In the wake of the apparently road-rage-motivated killing that involved a diplomat’s stepson, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reminded foreign dignitaries to use vehicles bearing diplomatic license plates properly. In a note verbale that circulated among various diplomatic missions and international organizations, the DFA said only accredited people will have official use of the diplomatic plates. Unlike in other countries, vehicles in the Philippines with diplomatic license plates are not exempt from the number coding scheme and are not given priority in parking space. Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ed Malaya told GMANews.TV that the diplomatic plate’s only use is to identify the passenger as one from the diplomatic corps. “Only privileged persons to whom a diplomatic corps (DC) or other exempt vehicle (OEV) license plate has been issued and any of his/her qualified dependents who are part of the privileged person’s household and who has been accredited as such by the Philippine Government shall have use of the privileged person’s vehicle carrying diplomatic plates," the DFA said. The DFA issued the note after the stepson of Asian Development Bank (ADB) executive Stephen Pollard allegedly shot and killed the son of a Malacañang official last Nov. 18. The suspect, Jason Ivler, was riding Pollard’s Honda CR-V with diplomatic plate number 20903. According to witnesses, Ivler shot Renato Victor Ebarle Jr., 27, the son of the undersecretary at the Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff, at close range with a .45 caliber pistol in what appeared to be a case of road rage. The vehicles of Ivler and Ebarle were seen moving along Boni Serrano Avenue that night and both were seen engaged in hostile behavior towards each other. Pollard went to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit of the Quezon Police Police Department on Friday afternoon to affirm that the vehicle was his, he refused to say who was driving the car at that time. Malaya did not say whether Pollard was liable for any violations in the law given that he allowed other people to drive the vehicle for other purposes aside from his functions at the ADB. “We will review the policy on the use of diplomatic plates, which should be accounted for or surrendered once the diplomat leaves the country," he earlier said. Based on the agreement between the Philippine government and the ADB headquarters, the international bank shall hold its employees liable for any abuses they commit. “The Bank shall take every measure to ensure that the privileges, immunities, exemptions and facilities conferred by this agreement are not abused and for this purpose shall establish such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary and expedient," the agreement stated in article 13 section 51 of the agreement. - GMANews.TV