Evidence against 6 US Marines ‘strong’
Evidence is strong against six US Marines accused of raping a 22-year-old Filipino at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on November 1.
Armand Arreza, administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), said on Friday that there were witnesses, including the Filipino driver of a rented van where the alleged rape took place. A condom was even found in the van, he added.
Dr. Rolando Ortiz 2nd, the physician who attended to the victim, said a thorough examination showed signs of penile penetration, and her body bore a number of bruises. Ortiz said the woman was badly bruised.
"The victim had bruises on her left and right forearms, some parts of her torso and also on her right eye." The bruises may have come from the victim’s struggle to escape her attackers.
The six Americans were charged with rape at the Olongapo City Prosecutor’s Office Thursday afternoon.
Prosecutors Ramon Viray and Joel Samonte were handling the charges. The complaint identified the suspects as Keith Silkwood, Daniel Smith, Albert Lara, Dominic Duplantis, Corey Barris and Chad Carpenter.
The six US Marines, who took part in joint counterterrorism exercises in Subic as part of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), were barred on Thursday from boarding their departing ship after a witness identified them as suspects in the alleged rape.
Preliminary hearing is set early next week, said Arreza. "We have requested that the case be expedited in the interest of both parties," he added.
Arreza said the SBMA is extending legal and even accommodation assistance to the victim, who is from Zamboanga and on vacation in Subic. "She’s staying under the SBMA custody until the preliminary hearing," he said, adding that the woman’s mother has already arrived in Subic.
Paul Jones, US chargé d’affaires, said the suspects "are currently in the Philippines under the responsibility of the US Embassy in Manila." Authorities said the six Marines met the woman Tuesday in a karaoke bar outside Subic, a former American military base. They invited her to go with them in a rented van. A few hours later, witnesses said they saw the woman being dumped unconscious from a van along a road, the SBMA said in a statement.
The VFA is a bilateral agreement that institutionalizes the rules on the treatment of US Armed Forces visiting the Philippines for training, joint military exercises with Philippine troops, and the like.
Ratified by the Philippine Senate in May 1999, the agreement gives the US military access to Philippine seaports and airports for refueling, supplies, repair and rest and recreation. The agreement also covers situations where US troops are in the country for joint exercises or shore leave. PNA
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Armand Arreza, administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), said on Friday that there were witnesses, including the Filipino driver of a rented van where the alleged rape took place. A condom was even found in the van, he added.
Dr. Rolando Ortiz 2nd, the physician who attended to the victim, said a thorough examination showed signs of penile penetration, and her body bore a number of bruises. Ortiz said the woman was badly bruised.
"The victim had bruises on her left and right forearms, some parts of her torso and also on her right eye." The bruises may have come from the victim’s struggle to escape her attackers.
The six Americans were charged with rape at the Olongapo City Prosecutor’s Office Thursday afternoon.
Prosecutors Ramon Viray and Joel Samonte were handling the charges. The complaint identified the suspects as Keith Silkwood, Daniel Smith, Albert Lara, Dominic Duplantis, Corey Barris and Chad Carpenter.
The six US Marines, who took part in joint counterterrorism exercises in Subic as part of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), were barred on Thursday from boarding their departing ship after a witness identified them as suspects in the alleged rape.
Preliminary hearing is set early next week, said Arreza. "We have requested that the case be expedited in the interest of both parties," he added.
Arreza said the SBMA is extending legal and even accommodation assistance to the victim, who is from Zamboanga and on vacation in Subic. "She’s staying under the SBMA custody until the preliminary hearing," he said, adding that the woman’s mother has already arrived in Subic.
Paul Jones, US chargé d’affaires, said the suspects "are currently in the Philippines under the responsibility of the US Embassy in Manila." Authorities said the six Marines met the woman Tuesday in a karaoke bar outside Subic, a former American military base. They invited her to go with them in a rented van. A few hours later, witnesses said they saw the woman being dumped unconscious from a van along a road, the SBMA said in a statement.
The VFA is a bilateral agreement that institutionalizes the rules on the treatment of US Armed Forces visiting the Philippines for training, joint military exercises with Philippine troops, and the like.
Ratified by the Philippine Senate in May 1999, the agreement gives the US military access to Philippine seaports and airports for refueling, supplies, repair and rest and recreation. The agreement also covers situations where US troops are in the country for joint exercises or shore leave. PNA
Related Articles:
posted by Anonymous at
10:47 AM
1 Comments:
Here's another interesting story, in almost the same day 3 years ago. The same incident was attempted to a Filipina in Okinawa Japan. I wonder what kind of training these marines are getting.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2541449.stm
By
Anonymous, at 11/05/2005 5:37 PM
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