Olongapo expressed utmost appreciation to USS Frank Cable

While Submarine Tender USS Frank Cable is in Subic Bay to conduct ship's maintenance and support activity to USS Santa Fe, the crew, through the initiative of Command Chaplain LCdr Ronald Rinaldi and Command Doctor Cmdr Troy Borema thought of making their port visit more meaningful by conducting community services in Olongapo City.

After series of meetings with representatives of Subic Bay Chamber of Commerce, Subic Dock, Global Development, Subic Rotary and Olongapo City, a plan for a week-long activity was concieved.

Among the services they conducted were Medical and dental consultations at Niños Pagasa Orpahange in Old Cabalan and Ilwas Elem School. They repainted the interior of the orphanage and the classrooms, repaired electrical fixtures, replaced cushions and leather covers of sofas, donated tables and bookshelves and had fun games with the community.

On their third day of community service activity in Olongapo City and Subic, Zambales, the crew of USS Frank Cable became champions of the environment, together with Bagumbayan Volunteers, the city's Agriculture office, ESMO and Barangay Kalaklan Officials, they conducted tree planting and shoreline clean-up at Parola Area, Kalaklan.

Last Saturday, they played friendly soccer game with the locals and last Monday, they invited local orphans on board the ship where they served hearty meal to their visitors.

This goodwill gestures of US Navy Servicemen refreshes the lasting friendship and cooperation between the American Servicemen and Olongapeños.

Because of that, the Members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod in session assembled passed a resolution to express their Appreciation to The Crew of USS Frank Cable for Their Invaluable Services and Support to the People of Olongapo.

Ed Piano who coordinated the activities for the City of Olongapo handed over the resolution few minutes before it set sail yesterday.

Capt Pete Hildreth read excerpts of the resolution using the ship's public address system and extended personal commendation to those who participated in the activities.

USS Frank Cable crew visited Olongapo for a community service project

Forty-three sailors and officers led by Cdr. Troy Borema and LCdr Ronald Rinaldi visited Ninos Pagasa Orphanage in Old Cabalan, Olongapo City yesterday for their community service activities.

They repainted the interior of the orphanage, repaired electrical fixtures, replaced cushions and leather covers of sofas, donated tables and bookshelves.

Medical and dental consultations were also conducted followed by fun games with the locals.

Emely Gonzales said that they have more than 30 visually/hearing impaired students in the facility and that around fifty (including some members of the community) benefited from the sailor’s activity. She (in behalf of the kids) expresses profound appreciation to the kindness of Frank Cable crew.

Submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) arrived in Subic Bay in the Republic of the Philippines 22 July 2011. Cable's main mission is to conduct maintenance and support of submarines and surface vessels deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

Frank Cable is scheduled to perform various shipboard repairs while inport to include replacing fittings, handrails and parts of the hull. During this time, a Los Angeles-class attack submarine will also pull alongside, so Frank Cable can provide material and preservation support.

For many Sailors onboard Frank Cable (home-ported in Guam), this is the first time they have visited the Republic of the Philippines.

Capt. Hildreth encouraged the crew to explore the city during their down time, and hopes his Sailors will enjoy themselves and experience all that the area has to offer.

Gordon: RP still needs VFA

Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) today said he is against the abrogation of the visiting forces agreement (VFA) stressing that the country still needs the support of the United States (US) military especially on the training of their local counterparts.

Calls for the cancellation of the VFA mounted again due to reports that the US forces participate in actual combat, which is a violation of the treaty. But Gordon said there is no need for a hasty decision to halt the agreement. "We should not be emotional about this issue. Let us study this carefully. I'll be frank, I would say we still need this agreement, our military needs it, and our country benefits from it," he said.

"On whether the US soldiers are engaged in combat operations, I do not know about that, but we have to have proof. If the American soldiers would go out there and participate in actual combat, that is prohibited. They are supposed to train our soldiers and they should not be engaged in any firefight unless they are in immediate danger," he added.

The senator explained that any move to cancel the VFA should be studied carefully because the agreement is actually beneficial not only to the military but also to the humanitarian needs of the country.

Gordon pointed out that aside from teaching new military strategies and providing new technologies to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the US military, through the VFA, also shares its knowledge and capacity to respond to different kinds of security challenges, such as terrorism, pandemics, natural disasters and transnational crimes.

He noted that the military, together with US soldiers, helped civilian rescuers after the entire village of St. Bernard in Guinsaugon, Southern Leyte, disappeared under mudslides on February 17, 2006.

Also, following the onslaught of Typhoon "Frank" in 2008, US troops delivered food and water and dispatched aircraft and medics to help the people of Panay who were badly affected by the disaster.

"We should also consider the fact that the US military has been there to help us even during disasters. They were there when the tragedy in Guinsaugon happened. We used their equipment, they provided relief materials. They help our military and they help our people," the senator said.

Subic rape victim 'recants'

Subic rape victim "Nicole" recanted her earlier statements that Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, who was convicted in 2007, raped her.

In her sworn statement submitted to the Court of Appeals (CA) on March 12, Nicole admitted that she was so drunk when the incident happened. She raised doubts that Smith raped her, admitting that she was attracted to the US Marine officer.

Nicole's new affidavit, which was submitted to the CA by Smith's legal counsel, Jose Justiniano, came more than two years after the Makati Regional Trial Court convicted the Marine officer of raping her.

Smith was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to up to 40 years in prison.

Nicole said she expected many sectors to question her motives in executing the new affidavit more than three years after the incident, but added her conscience bothered her.

But Evalyn Ursua, who stood as Nicole's legal counsel, said her client's new affidavit has no bearing on the case anymore since it was already in the CA.

Ursua also said Tuesday that Nicole has left for the United States (US) for good and that her services as a lawyer were already terminated.

She said Nicole's mother informed her through a letter Monday that her services were no longer needed.

Ursua added that her client's mother wanted "all other cases arising from or related" to the rape case dropped.

"I asked her mother why she did not tell me personally," Ursua said, adding that it would have been better if her client informed her personally.

No justice

According to Ursua, Nicole's mother explained that they terminated her services because they were "tired of the case and do not want anymore to be bothered by it because 'there is no justice in the Philippines'."

Nicole, the lawyer added, expressed concern that the government betrayed her.

Ursua has been Nicole's lawyer since February 2006, a year after the rape victim hurled a complaint against her alleged rapists, including Smith.

Despite the latest development, Ursua said she has highest respect for her client considering the odds she faced when they decided to press the fight against the rapists.

She downplayed the effect on the case of Nicole's flight and her termination as legal counsel.

Smith's detention at the US Embassy has sparked controversy and gave rise to calls for the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which the US government has cited in justifying its action.

A manifestation submitted by Smith before the CA stated that they fully complied with the order of the Makati Regional Trial Court to pay Nicole damages amounting to P100,000.

"Consonant with the satisfaction of the civil aspect of the case, private complainant terminated Ursua as counsel in the case, as well as other cases, arising from the incident pending before the CA and the Supreme Court (SC)," said Justiniano in the manifestation.

Women's group

Earlier, Task Force Subic Rape, a multi-sectoral coalition composed of various women's group, confirmed that Nicole was already in the US.

Lotlot Requizo, coordinator of the group, said Nicole told her that she was demoralized over the case when they last talked on February 12, a day after the SC ordered the transfer of Smith to Philippine custody, while the Philippine and US governments renegotiate the terms of the Marine's detention.

However, the government has not yet implemented the decision, saying the case is still on appeal before the CA.

In an interview, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez dismissed claims reportedly made by Nicole's family that she has flown to the US and is staying there for good because she is frustrated with the Philippine justice system.

Gonzalez said that Nicole's going to the US ironically "shows that her supposed grief and hatred expressed before is not very genuine."

"Why feel that way when there is a loud cry from people who shared with her so-called grief in the past. Now they are using these issues again and even asking now for the abrogation of the VFA. Why should she feel that way, in the first place she won the first round on her battle in the [Regional Trial Court]," he said.

Asked if Nicole's leaving the country would affect the status of the pending appeal on the conviction of Smith, Gonzalez said he doubts it.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, meantime, said Malacañang had nothing to do with the reported decision of Nicole to go to the US.

Remonde said the public should respect Nicole's decision, "after all, no one is sure what and how the Court of Appeals would decide on Smith's appeal."

He said even if Nicole withdraws from the case, it's already with the CA and the case would continue. (Sunnex)