Rape case driver may be charged
The justice department will again look into the criminal liability of the driver of four American servicemen accused of raping a 22-year-old Filipina in Subic, Zambales, in November, an official said yesterday.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Timoteo Soriano could have been charged as an accomplice, and particularly because he failed to report the incident to police.
“I ordered the conduct of a new preliminary investigation. He could have been charged as an accomplice,” Gonzalez said.
“He was the driver and he must have known [what had really taken place]. He could have reported it to the police.”
Gonzalez made the statement even as he was expected to release today the resolution on the petition for review filed by Keith Silkwood, Daniel Smith, Dominic Duplantis, and Chad Carpentier. The four accused want the rape charges against them dismissed.
Last week, the lawyers of the alleged rape victim petitioned the Court of Appeals to reinstate the driver of the four US servicemen among the accused.
Lawyer Evelyn Ursua claimed that Olongapo City judge Renato Dilag abused his discretion when he dismissed the rape case against driver Soriano on Jan. 13, 2006.
Olongapo Prosecutor Prudencio Jalandoni had appealed to indict Soriano as a coaccused in the rape case in December because, it was claimed, he had intentionally driven the van slowly to give Smith more time to “sexually ravish the victim.”
Dilag dismissed his appeal on Feb. 10.
Meanwhile, Gonzalez has reconstituted a new panel of prosecutors to handle the rape case now pending before the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 139.
By Rey E. Requejo - Manila Standard
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Timoteo Soriano could have been charged as an accomplice, and particularly because he failed to report the incident to police.
“I ordered the conduct of a new preliminary investigation. He could have been charged as an accomplice,” Gonzalez said.
“He was the driver and he must have known [what had really taken place]. He could have reported it to the police.”
Gonzalez made the statement even as he was expected to release today the resolution on the petition for review filed by Keith Silkwood, Daniel Smith, Dominic Duplantis, and Chad Carpentier. The four accused want the rape charges against them dismissed.
Last week, the lawyers of the alleged rape victim petitioned the Court of Appeals to reinstate the driver of the four US servicemen among the accused.
Lawyer Evelyn Ursua claimed that Olongapo City judge Renato Dilag abused his discretion when he dismissed the rape case against driver Soriano on Jan. 13, 2006.
Olongapo Prosecutor Prudencio Jalandoni had appealed to indict Soriano as a coaccused in the rape case in December because, it was claimed, he had intentionally driven the van slowly to give Smith more time to “sexually ravish the victim.”
Dilag dismissed his appeal on Feb. 10.
Meanwhile, Gonzalez has reconstituted a new panel of prosecutors to handle the rape case now pending before the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 139.
By Rey E. Requejo - Manila Standard
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
7:02 AM
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