US spokesman: No whitewash on gang-rape
US Department of State First Secretary and Press Attaché Matthew Lussenhop vowed on Monday that there will be no whitewash in the gang rape case of a 23-year-old Zamboangueña allegedly committed by four US Marines.
In an exclusive interview with a local publisher, David "Noel" Erasga, Lussenhop said both the United States and the Philippine governments have the same goal. "We both want to find out what really happened and we want to see justice done."
Lussenhop stressed that if found guilty, the implicated US soldiers will be meted out "with punishment that they deserve."
"We want to see punishment meted out if crime was committed," Lussenhop emphasized.
He said that under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) "there is an agreement that provides a framework whereby the Philippine and US legal systems can handle cases like this (rape)."
He said the celebrated gang rape incident that happened November 1 last year is presently under Philippine jurisdiction, citing that "Philippine investigators filed the charges, Philippine judges are hearing the case, and Philippine lawyers are representing the accused."
"It's going forward under the terms and obligations of the VFA, and we plan to live up to these."
He said the United States Department is very much satisfied with the progress of the case. "We are very much satisfied with the government of the Philippines. They express that they intent to live up to the terms and obligations of the VFA as well, because, at the end of the day, we are partners and we both want to find out and see justice done," he stressed again.
The young Zamboangueña coed said she was gang-raped by a group of American soldiers inside the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in Olongapo City, Zambales, on the eve of All Saint's Day. Initially, six US soldiers were linked by a lone witness--their own hired driver of a van that took them to a dark secluded place after they reportedly had drinks too many inside a night spot.
The girl was allegedly dumped by the roadside after the rape, according to the Filipino driver. The driver later recanted his statement. But Philippine government prosecutors proceeded with the case and even linked the driver as an accomplice.
However, the prosecutors dropped the case against the driver and two more American suspects for lack of evidence. SUNSTAR
In an exclusive interview with a local publisher, David "Noel" Erasga, Lussenhop said both the United States and the Philippine governments have the same goal. "We both want to find out what really happened and we want to see justice done."
Lussenhop stressed that if found guilty, the implicated US soldiers will be meted out "with punishment that they deserve."
"We want to see punishment meted out if crime was committed," Lussenhop emphasized.
He said that under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) "there is an agreement that provides a framework whereby the Philippine and US legal systems can handle cases like this (rape)."
He said the celebrated gang rape incident that happened November 1 last year is presently under Philippine jurisdiction, citing that "Philippine investigators filed the charges, Philippine judges are hearing the case, and Philippine lawyers are representing the accused."
"It's going forward under the terms and obligations of the VFA, and we plan to live up to these."
He said the United States Department is very much satisfied with the progress of the case. "We are very much satisfied with the government of the Philippines. They express that they intent to live up to the terms and obligations of the VFA as well, because, at the end of the day, we are partners and we both want to find out and see justice done," he stressed again.
The young Zamboangueña coed said she was gang-raped by a group of American soldiers inside the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in Olongapo City, Zambales, on the eve of All Saint's Day. Initially, six US soldiers were linked by a lone witness--their own hired driver of a van that took them to a dark secluded place after they reportedly had drinks too many inside a night spot.
The girl was allegedly dumped by the roadside after the rape, according to the Filipino driver. The driver later recanted his statement. But Philippine government prosecutors proceeded with the case and even linked the driver as an accomplice.
However, the prosecutors dropped the case against the driver and two more American suspects for lack of evidence. SUNSTAR
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
8:22 AM
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