This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 11, April 27, 2006
Ex-VP, Ex-Senator, Law Dean Join Counsel for
Subic Rape Victim
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 © 2006 Bulatlat
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