‘Nicole’ leads protest in Subic, one year after rape
By Ansbert Joaquin - Inquirer
OLONGAPO CITY -- While the nation remembered the dead on Wednesday, 24-year-old "Nicole" went back to where she was allegedly raped by US servicemen exactly a year ago to demand for justice.
Nicole, a court-appointed pseudonym, also appealed to the government not to allow more visits by American war vessels "to prevent the rape of more Filipinas by American soldiers."
Four American servicemen are now facing trial for allegedly raping “Nicole,” a college graduate from Zamboanga City. A Makati City court is expected to hand down its verdict on the case on November 27.
In a lightning protest rally organized by the Task Force Subic Rape inside the Subic Bay Freeport, women activists and a few male supporters unfurled placards calling for justice for “Nicole” and for the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement that allowed American servicemen to participate in war games between Philippine and US military forces.
Shouting "US band of rapists, guilty, ikulong, parusahan [jail them, punish them]," the protesters, including “Nicole” and her lawyer, Evelyn Ursua, marched toward the site where the Zamboanga resident was allegedly dumped by her attackers after raping her. Twenty meters into the site, however, security personnel of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority blocked their path, citing security concerns.
As the tension rose, Ursua was overheard as saying, "They have to bodily remove us here if they want us out."
“Nicole” caught the SBMA police by surprise at a time when the USS Essex, the same US vessel where the four US servicemen used to work, and nine other American ships were docked in Subic for the Balikatan exercises that ended on October 31.
At the time of the rally, about 5,000 servicemen were allowed to go out of the Freeport for recreation.
"Why can't our government do anything to stop the Americans from coming here?" “Nicole” said, adding that there was a need "to avoid another rape [of Filipinas]." She also expressed dismay at the sight of US ships in Subic again "as if nothing happened, as if it is business as usual."
Ursua pleaded with the SBMA security men to allow her and “Nicole” to proceed to the seaport area, to show the media "where she was exactly dumped by her four attackers a year ago." Her request was turned down.
After being blocked, the group marched in front of the SBMA Building 229, merged with another group of protesters, and held a short candle lighting program.
"I came here as a tourist, not as a hooker," “Nicole” said, referring to insinuations that she was a prostitute working at the time of her rape.
“Nicole” also said she was ready for whatever verdict the court would hand down on November 27.
“I am confident, I strongly believe that I did my best. I was courageous. I fought hard. I believe in my case and I did not allow myself to be bribed,” said “Nicole” in Filipino.
“I am only looking for justice. I am proud that I stood up to fight for what I thought was right and for my right as a woman,” she said.
SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said that the SBMA did not usually allow rallies inside the freeport but nonetheless let “Nicole’s” group hold the protest action because it was generally peaceful.
Arreza said however that they could not allow “Nicole” and Ursua to approach the area where she was allegedly dumped by her attackers because it had been cordoned off for security reasons not related to “Nicole’s” case.
He corrected reports that the SBMA did not do anything to help “Nicole.”
"In fact, we were able to solve the case within 24 hours. We were able to identify those five men. “Nicole” could not identify them then. It was only because of the efforts of the SBMA that we were able to identity and keep them here. That is why there is a case going on right now," he said.
He also said that the SBMA had extended all support to “Nicole” and her family. "At a personal level I have been trying to keep in touch with her mother, to see how things are going on. But justice must take its course," Arreza explained.
Nicole, a court-appointed pseudonym, also appealed to the government not to allow more visits by American war vessels "to prevent the rape of more Filipinas by American soldiers."
Four American servicemen are now facing trial for allegedly raping “Nicole,” a college graduate from Zamboanga City. A Makati City court is expected to hand down its verdict on the case on November 27.
In a lightning protest rally organized by the Task Force Subic Rape inside the Subic Bay Freeport, women activists and a few male supporters unfurled placards calling for justice for “Nicole” and for the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement that allowed American servicemen to participate in war games between Philippine and US military forces.
Shouting "US band of rapists, guilty, ikulong, parusahan [jail them, punish them]," the protesters, including “Nicole” and her lawyer, Evelyn Ursua, marched toward the site where the Zamboanga resident was allegedly dumped by her attackers after raping her. Twenty meters into the site, however, security personnel of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority blocked their path, citing security concerns.
As the tension rose, Ursua was overheard as saying, "They have to bodily remove us here if they want us out."
“Nicole” caught the SBMA police by surprise at a time when the USS Essex, the same US vessel where the four US servicemen used to work, and nine other American ships were docked in Subic for the Balikatan exercises that ended on October 31.
At the time of the rally, about 5,000 servicemen were allowed to go out of the Freeport for recreation.
"Why can't our government do anything to stop the Americans from coming here?" “Nicole” said, adding that there was a need "to avoid another rape [of Filipinas]." She also expressed dismay at the sight of US ships in Subic again "as if nothing happened, as if it is business as usual."
Ursua pleaded with the SBMA security men to allow her and “Nicole” to proceed to the seaport area, to show the media "where she was exactly dumped by her four attackers a year ago." Her request was turned down.
After being blocked, the group marched in front of the SBMA Building 229, merged with another group of protesters, and held a short candle lighting program.
"I came here as a tourist, not as a hooker," “Nicole” said, referring to insinuations that she was a prostitute working at the time of her rape.
“Nicole” also said she was ready for whatever verdict the court would hand down on November 27.
“I am confident, I strongly believe that I did my best. I was courageous. I fought hard. I believe in my case and I did not allow myself to be bribed,” said “Nicole” in Filipino.
“I am only looking for justice. I am proud that I stood up to fight for what I thought was right and for my right as a woman,” she said.
SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said that the SBMA did not usually allow rallies inside the freeport but nonetheless let “Nicole’s” group hold the protest action because it was generally peaceful.
Arreza said however that they could not allow “Nicole” and Ursua to approach the area where she was allegedly dumped by her attackers because it had been cordoned off for security reasons not related to “Nicole’s” case.
He corrected reports that the SBMA did not do anything to help “Nicole.”
"In fact, we were able to solve the case within 24 hours. We were able to identify those five men. “Nicole” could not identify them then. It was only because of the efforts of the SBMA that we were able to identity and keep them here. That is why there is a case going on right now," he said.
He also said that the SBMA had extended all support to “Nicole” and her family. "At a personal level I have been trying to keep in touch with her mother, to see how things are going on. But justice must take its course," Arreza explained.
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