Judge to resume Subic rape case hearing
4 US soldiers expected to face accuser in court
By Tonette Orejas, Inquirer
FOUR United States Marines charged with rape and their accuser, a 22-year-old Filipina, are expected to face each other in court shortly, after the judge handling the case announced Monday he planned to issue this week an order setting an arraignment.
Judge Renato Dilag of the regional trial court in Olongapo City said he would resume hearing of the case as the Department of Justice neared the end of its 60-day review of the resolution charging the servicemen with rape with conspiracy.
The review, which caused the deferment of the hearing for almost two months, has to be finished on March 20.
The arraignment requires the accused, whose ages range from 22 years to 29 years, to appear before the sala of Dilag, listen to the formal charges as they are read to them and plead "guilty" or "not guilty." Pre-trial and trial follow.
"I can't wait. I don't want to waste time," Dilag said, referring to the need to beat the one-year limit set by the Philippine-US Visiting Forces Agreement to conclude judicial proceedings.
The complainant, a native of Zamboanga City, is the first Filipino to bring her complaint to court since the VFA came into force in 1999 and allowed the resumption of war games between Filipino and American troops.
She claimed to have been abused on Nov. 1, 2005 inside a van rented by the servicemen who were participants in "Talon Vision" exercises at the Subic Bay Freeport.
In the years when the US operated the Subic and Clark military bases, US military personnel charged with offenses underwent court-martial, and not tried by Philippine courts.
The case has become contentious as Philippine legislators and Dilag battled for custody and jurisdiction over the servicemen.
On Jan. 26, Dilag recalled the arrest warrant on Staff Sergeant Chad Brian Carpentier, and Lance Corporals Daniel Smith, Keith Silkwood and Dominic Duplantis after the US Embassy in Manila formally acknowledged custody of the men and promised their confinement at the embassy compound.
The court, Dilag said, would acquire jurisdiction over the four soldiers after their arraignment.
By Tonette Orejas, Inquirer
FOUR United States Marines charged with rape and their accuser, a 22-year-old Filipina, are expected to face each other in court shortly, after the judge handling the case announced Monday he planned to issue this week an order setting an arraignment.
Judge Renato Dilag of the regional trial court in Olongapo City said he would resume hearing of the case as the Department of Justice neared the end of its 60-day review of the resolution charging the servicemen with rape with conspiracy.
The review, which caused the deferment of the hearing for almost two months, has to be finished on March 20.
The arraignment requires the accused, whose ages range from 22 years to 29 years, to appear before the sala of Dilag, listen to the formal charges as they are read to them and plead "guilty" or "not guilty." Pre-trial and trial follow.
"I can't wait. I don't want to waste time," Dilag said, referring to the need to beat the one-year limit set by the Philippine-US Visiting Forces Agreement to conclude judicial proceedings.
The complainant, a native of Zamboanga City, is the first Filipino to bring her complaint to court since the VFA came into force in 1999 and allowed the resumption of war games between Filipino and American troops.
She claimed to have been abused on Nov. 1, 2005 inside a van rented by the servicemen who were participants in "Talon Vision" exercises at the Subic Bay Freeport.
In the years when the US operated the Subic and Clark military bases, US military personnel charged with offenses underwent court-martial, and not tried by Philippine courts.
The case has become contentious as Philippine legislators and Dilag battled for custody and jurisdiction over the servicemen.
On Jan. 26, Dilag recalled the arrest warrant on Staff Sergeant Chad Brian Carpentier, and Lance Corporals Daniel Smith, Keith Silkwood and Dominic Duplantis after the US Embassy in Manila formally acknowledged custody of the men and promised their confinement at the embassy compound.
The court, Dilag said, would acquire jurisdiction over the four soldiers after their arraignment.
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
11:51 PM
1 Comments:
Well, as mamma always said, don't cut off your nose to spite your face. From all reports it appears this was a case of 2 adults (22 years old each, at least) that had both had a few too many drinks, on their own decision. No case of underage or struggle or battery being brought.
So what is to be gained by pursuing the prosecution? Already there is no liberty for sailors as a result of this, costing the local economy millions. Justice has already been served; the sailors are under extreme punishment, it can be assured they will not return.
So what is the desired outcome, that no other ship's crews come ashore either (which is what is happening now).
Where is the wisdom, so many are SUFFERING loss and loss of income for the one drunk 22 year old (willing or not)?
The only people who agree with this are the politicians and others in judicial roles trying to get ahead (who will ultimately lose), not the poor vendors and hotels, and so forth who are losing money every day until this is forgotten (which could be years). Makes no sense. The case is very weak, at best, why ruin all these other’s lives? What is to gain?
The next step, if this is to be pursued, is to change the second language, possibly to Japanese? Or at least Korean? Or both? Start learning the new alphabets.
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Anonymous, at 3/15/2006 8:16 AM
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