The Philippines will seek the extradition of a former American diplomat who was indicted in the United States for sexually abusing a 16-year-old Filipino woman and possessing child pornographic materials during his tenure in Manila. That can be done once criminal charges are also filed against him in the Philippines, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevara said on Monday.
Dean Cheves, a member of the US foreign service stationed in the Philippines from September 2020 to February 2021, has been indicted by the US federal jury in the Eastern District of Virginia.
“The DOJ is presently coordinating with the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) on relevant legal issues such as diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention and territorial jurisdiction,” Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.
Once these issues have been clarified, Guevarra said the Philippine government will “proceed to coordinate with the US Department of justice under the umbrella of the RP-US Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT).”
“Depending on the evidence made available, the subject US personnel may be held criminally and civilly liable under our Anti-Child Abuse Act, Anti-Child Pornography Act, Anti-Human Trafficking Law, and the Revised Penal Code,” Guevarra explained.
“Mr. Cheves may be extradited to the Philippines once he is charged under any or all of the aforementioned laws, subject to the provisions of our extradition treaty with the US,” he said.
The US Department of Justice said that Chevez met the Filipina minor online and engaged in sexual activity with her. He reportedly took videos of himself.