Ex-VP, Ex-Senator,
Law Dean Join Counsel for Subic Rape Victim
BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO
Bulatlat
Posted
7:06 p.m., Apr. 27, 2006
A former vice
president, a former senator, and a law dean have joined the team working
as private counsels for the complainant in the Subic rape case.
Former Vice
President Teofisto Guingona Jr., former Sen. Rene Saguisag, and Lyceum
of the Philippines College of Law dean Pacifico Agabin have joined
lawyers Evalyn Ursua, Honorato Aquino, and Anna Lisa Gonzales in
lawyering for “Nicole,” the 22-year-old woman who was allegedly raped by
four U.S. Marines in Subic, Zambales in November last year. They made
their first appearance for the case earlier today at the Makati Regional
Trial Court, where the motion to admit amended information filed by the
Department of Justice (DOJ) was heard.
“These are legal
luminaries,” Ursua said of the three new lawyers for Nicole. “We expect
them to provide expert opinion, particularly because there are still
many gray areas in the case.”
Saguisag lost no
time in assailing Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, who has recently
filed a motion to amend the information on three of the suspects.
Under the original
information, Lance Corporals Daniel Smith, Keith Silkwood and Daniel
Duplantis, and S/Sgt. Chad Carpentier were all charged as principals in
the alleged gang-rape of Nicole. Gonzalez had recommended the
downgrading of charges against Silkwood, Duplantis and Carpentier –
turning them into accessories instead of principals.
“Pandering to the
mob? This is very shocking,” Saguisag said, referring to Gonzalez’s
statement that he could have charged three of the four suspects as mere
accessories but he wanted to satisfy the mob. “You should decide in
accordance with law.”
Ursua and Guingona
both said there was sufficient evidence to prove that Silkwood,
Duplantis and Carpentier were principals in the case. “They were
cheering him on,” Guingona said.
“Why would you turn
the suspects into accessories when in fact they could be charged as
principals?” Saguisag added. “It seems Gonzalez is lawyering for the
Embassy.”
Ursua said they
expect the Makati Regional Trial Court to come up with the decision on
the motion to admit the amended information tomorrow.
The arraignment of
the four suspects is also scheduled for tomorrow. “If the judge decides
to accept the amended information, the arraignment should not push
through tomorrow,” Ursua said, “because the victim has a right to bring
the matter to the Court of Appeals.” Bulatlat
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