DFA to study warrants for US Marines first
By Jonathan Vicente, Manila Times Reporter
Foreign Affairs officials on Friday were waiting for the copy of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court’s order to arrest the four US Marines charged with raping a 22-year-old Filipina in November.
Ambassador Gilbert Asuque, DFA spokesman, said the department will issue its position once it studies the court order.
Judge Renato Dilag of the Olongapo Regional Trial Court issued warrants Friday morning for the arrest of Staff Sgt. Chad Brian Carpentier, Lance Corporals Daniel Smith, Keith Silkwood and Dominic Duplantis.
The judge said the warrants are based on evidence submitted by the prosecutors implicating the four Marines in the rape case.
The prosecutors said Smith raped the woman inside a van at the Subic Bay Freeport in Olongapo as Silkwood, Duplantis and Carpentier cheered him on.
Smith’s lawyers told the court at a legal proceeding that he had “consensual sex” with the alleged victim.
Silkwood, Duplantis and Carpentier are part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Force stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
The four were barred from leaving the country after the victim sued them for rape. They are detained at the US Embassy in Manila.
Officials of the US Embassy said Washington is still studying the DFA’s request to hand over the Marines to Philippine authorities.
US officials said that under the Visiting Forces Agreement, the US Embassy has the right to keep the Marines.
The VFA allows the entry of US soldiers and their equipment into the country for joint US and Philippine military exercises.
“The terms of the Visiting Forces Agreement allow for the accused to remain in US custody until the end of judicial proceedings,” the US Embassy said in its statement released on Thursday.
The women’s group Gabriela was joined by the militant organization Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in a lighting rally in front of the DFA to press for the enforcement of the arrest warrants.
“There should be no ifs or buts. The DFA should now request the US Embassy to turn over custody of the four. There is no reason for the delay. There should be immediate compliance with the arrest warrant,” Bayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes said.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Zosimo Paredes of the Presidential Committee on the VFA was allowed to visit the Marines at the embassy to check their condition. Paredes said the four looked slimmer than before and obviously lost weight.
The Philippine National Police spokesman said the PNP doesn’t expect the Marines to resist when the warrants are served on them.
Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil said the PNP also expects the embassy to honor the warrants.
Bataoil sees no problem in serving the warrant, because the PNP will coordinate closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation in making the arrest.
He said that as soon as the PNP gets a copy of the arrest warrant, it will be transmitted right away to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
--With Jeanette I. Andrade
Foreign Affairs officials on Friday were waiting for the copy of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court’s order to arrest the four US Marines charged with raping a 22-year-old Filipina in November.
Ambassador Gilbert Asuque, DFA spokesman, said the department will issue its position once it studies the court order.
Judge Renato Dilag of the Olongapo Regional Trial Court issued warrants Friday morning for the arrest of Staff Sgt. Chad Brian Carpentier, Lance Corporals Daniel Smith, Keith Silkwood and Dominic Duplantis.
The judge said the warrants are based on evidence submitted by the prosecutors implicating the four Marines in the rape case.
The prosecutors said Smith raped the woman inside a van at the Subic Bay Freeport in Olongapo as Silkwood, Duplantis and Carpentier cheered him on.
Smith’s lawyers told the court at a legal proceeding that he had “consensual sex” with the alleged victim.
Silkwood, Duplantis and Carpentier are part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Force stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
The four were barred from leaving the country after the victim sued them for rape. They are detained at the US Embassy in Manila.
Officials of the US Embassy said Washington is still studying the DFA’s request to hand over the Marines to Philippine authorities.
US officials said that under the Visiting Forces Agreement, the US Embassy has the right to keep the Marines.
The VFA allows the entry of US soldiers and their equipment into the country for joint US and Philippine military exercises.
“The terms of the Visiting Forces Agreement allow for the accused to remain in US custody until the end of judicial proceedings,” the US Embassy said in its statement released on Thursday.
The women’s group Gabriela was joined by the militant organization Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in a lighting rally in front of the DFA to press for the enforcement of the arrest warrants.
“There should be no ifs or buts. The DFA should now request the US Embassy to turn over custody of the four. There is no reason for the delay. There should be immediate compliance with the arrest warrant,” Bayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes said.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Zosimo Paredes of the Presidential Committee on the VFA was allowed to visit the Marines at the embassy to check their condition. Paredes said the four looked slimmer than before and obviously lost weight.
The Philippine National Police spokesman said the PNP doesn’t expect the Marines to resist when the warrants are served on them.
Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil said the PNP also expects the embassy to honor the warrants.
Bataoil sees no problem in serving the warrant, because the PNP will coordinate closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation in making the arrest.
He said that as soon as the PNP gets a copy of the arrest warrant, it will be transmitted right away to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
--With Jeanette I. Andrade
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
7:29 AM
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