Investigate Bribery Attempt on Subic Rape Case-Gabriela
BY BULATLAT
Posted 4:45 p.m., June 27, 2006
The women's group
Gabriela today called for an immediate investigation on the bribery
attempt on Nicole, the 22-year old Filipina who accused four U.S.
Marines of raping her early morning of Nov. 2 at the Subic Bay Freeport.
Lana Libanan, Gabriela
secretary general, released this statement after Nicole's step sister
Analiza Franco testified in court on June 26 that Subic Bay Metropolitan
Authority (SBMA) official Ben Natividad had tried to ask Nicole not to
pursue the case and to just "accept payment."
Franco said Natividad
approached her and Nicole on the night of Nov. 2 after the two women
gave their statements at the SBMA's Intelligence and Investigation
Office (IIO).
Libanan said the
investigation on Natividad should lead to more exposes’ on other
individuals who might have been involved in attempts to settle one of
the most controversial rape cases in the country in recent years.
This could also give
light on the "disappearance" of Timoteo Soriano, the driver of the van
where the alleged rape occurred, Libanan said. She said their group
believes that Soriano, a vital witness, was bribed into hiding. "His
disappearance remains highly doubtful for us," Libanan said.
"The government must be concerned over Franco's testimony that there was
an earlier attempt to whitewash the case," Libanan said. Bulatlat
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