Pentagon shields Marines in rape case

[thedrifter]

Ignoring Philippine sovereignty <br />
Pentagon shields Marines in rape case <br />
By Sharon Eolis, N.P. <br />
Published Nov 20, 2005 11:42 PM <br />
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The reported gang rape of a 22-year-old Filipina woman by six U.S....

[thedrifter]

Case vs. 6 US Marines getting weaker’
TEMPO

A ranking official of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFACOM) yesterday admitted that the case against the six US Marines accused of raping a Filipina in Subic last Nov. 1 is getting weaker.


VFACOM Executive Director Zosimo Paredes, who is also a lawyer, explained that the prosecution suffered a blow with the retraction of Timeteo Soriano, the driver of the van where the rape was supposed to have taken place.

“From my legal point of view the case has weakened based on the testimony of the witness (Soriano) because he was the star witness,” Paredes said.

In the meantime, Paredes said that he does not know the whereabouts of Soriano.

Paredes said that Soriano corrected his earlier affidavit that he witnessed the rape of the victim.

Soriano pointed out that he never witnessed the supposed rape and was only forced by investigators to sign the earlier affidavit.

Meanwhile, Paredes agreed to Sen. Miriam Santriago’s call to amend provisions of the VFA.

“We have to accept that there is somewhat a vagueness in the VFA which needs clarification so that it will not be misinterpreted,” Paredes said.

The official explained that there are many vague provisions in the VFA and pointed out the need for definition of terms. (Jeffrey G. Damicog)

Ellie

[junker316]

sounds to me like the question should be " was there really a rape or is this a way for the Philopino Gvernement to sabbotage the US efforts there "? Fake witnesses, Fraudlent statements, The whole nine yards of BS.

[thedrifter]

Something ain't right in Demark!;)

Ellie

[thedrifter]

One of six US marines accused of rape may go: Philippine authority

One of the six US marines accused of raping a 22-year-old Filipina might be released since the victim and a key witness had failed to identify him in their sworn statements, Philippine Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said on Tuesday.

"It should be in his favor. If he is not really mentioned, he is free," Gonzalez said of the US marine Dominic Duplantis who was not mentioned as one of the suspects by the victim and Filipino driver Timoteo Soriano.

However, Gonzalez told a press conference here that Duplantis had to submit a counter-affidavit indicating that Soriano and the victim did not name him. "If he was not mentioned, that is a good defense," Gonzalez said.

As for the other suspects including Daniel Smith, Chad Carpentier, Corey Burris, Albert Lara, and Keith Silkwood, Gonzalez said that the accused could and would be tried for rape.

He said there was really no difference if the US marines would be detained in a local jail or the US embassy, when asked about the development on the Philippines' official request for US embassy to turn over the suspects since last week.

"The effect is only psychological. If they are with us, we can see them everyday but beyond that, what?" Gonzalez asked.

Gonzalez said that the most important was that the US government assured the Philippines of full cooperation. "But since we have filed for custody, we might as well pursue it," he added.

The accused marines belong to the visiting US troops involved in a US-Philippine joint military exercise that ended early this month.

The suspects allegedly gang-raped the Filipina on Nov. 1 in a rented van driven by Timoteo Soriano. They are currently under control of US embassy, being damned by the Philippine public opinion that they are enjoying undeserved judiciary privileges.

Source: Xinhua

Ellie