GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Filtered By: Topstories
News
‘Nicole’ already staying in US, fires lawyer in Subic rape case
By MARK MERUEÑAS and JAM SISANTE, GMANews.TV
’I’m already demoralized’ “I’m already demoralized." This was what Subic rape victim “Nicole" said when she last talked to a leader of a group supporting her quest for justice against her rapist, Lance Corporal Daniel Smith. Lotlot Requizo, co-coordinator of Task Force Subic Rape last talked to Nicole on February 12, a day after the Supreme Court issued a ruling declaring the constitutionality of the Visiting Force Agreement (VFA). “I talked to her on the phone and asked her if she watched the news on SC’s decision on the VFA. Sabi niya, di na siya nanood kasi nade-demoralize na siya [She said she did not watch because she is already demoralized]," said Requizo. Requizo said she appeased Nicole and told her that groups and individuals supporting her would keep on fighting for her cause. In the same ruling, the high court ordered the transfer of Smith from the US Embassy to a detention facility under Philippine authorities. The government could not yet implement the order because Smith’s case is still pending at the Court of Appeals, according to presidential deputy spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo. On Tuesday, Nicole’s family terminated the services of Evalyn Ursua, the victim’s lawyer. According to Ursua, she was told by Nicole’s mother that her daughter had already left for the United States. - GMANews.TV
MANILA, Philippines – "Nicole," the Filipina who was sexually assaulted by an American serviceman in 2005, is now in the US and has terminated the services of her lawyer in the Subic rape case involving Lance Corporal Daniel Smith. Lawyer Neri Colmenares, head of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, and Nicole's former legal counsel Evalyn Ursua said Nicole’s mother had confirmed that her daughter is no longer in the Philippines. GMANews.TV tried but failed to confirm from Nicole's mother if her daughter indeed flew to the US. But Lotlot Requizo who has direct contact with Nicole's family said that she was able to confirm from Nicole's mother that the Filipina is already in the US. "I even invited her (Nicole's mother) to attend the launching of a coalition against the VFA. But she declined. Hindi na raw siguro kasi pagod na sila [Maybe not anymore because they are already tired], said Requizo, co-coordinator of Task Force Subic Rape. Nicole's mother is staying at Camp Navarro in Zambonga City, according to Requizo. Termination "Nicole terminated the services for legal counseling of Attorney Ursua at 5 p.m. yesterday [Monday]. Sabi ng nanay niya [Nicole], nasa US na siya [Nicole’s mother said her daughter is already in the US]," Colmenares told media in a text message. Colmenares, Ursua, and members of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) led by its secretary general Renato Reyes Jr on Tuesday appeared at a press conference in Quezon City to launch the Junk VFA Movement. Ursua said she talked to Nicole's mother for only a few minutes last Monday, and the latter told her that "nasa Estados Unidos na siya last week pa" [she (Nicole) is already in the United States since last week]. Ursua said she had been trying to contact Nicole since last week but her calls were not being returned. Nicole's family no longer sees justice in the Philippines and has decided to just give up the fight, according to the lawyer. Colmenares blamed the Arroyo administration for the latest developments in the rape case against Smith who is detained at the US Embassy in Manila. Collusion "The Filipino people should be outraged by the further subversion of our justice system by the US-Arroyo governments, when they pressured Nicole – who is now in the US according to her mother – to terminate the services of Ursua," Colmenares said. "The US-Arroyo collusion is further proven by the failure of President [Gloria Macapagal] Arroyo to negotiate and demand from President [Barack] Obama the return of Smith to Philippine custody as ordered by the Supreme Court," Colmenares added. The Supreme Court in February ordered Smith's transfer to Philippine custody, while the governments of the Philippines and the US renegotiate the terms of the Marine's detention. But the Palace has not yet received information that the rape victim had already left the country. "Hindi namin namo-monitor kung nasan siya (Nicole) [We have not monitored Nicole's whreabouts]," Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III in a radio dzBB interview. Colmenares said the "people should demand that President Arroyo be charged with contempt for refusing to negotiate the return of Smith as ordered by the Supreme Court and for continuing the Philippine justice system," he said. Colmenares, who also represents Bayan and Gabriela, was among the petitioners who asked the Supreme Court in late February to reverse its ruling upholding the constitutionality of the VFA. Bello appealed to Nicole's supporters not to connect President Arroyo's recent phone conversation with Obama to Smith's rape case. "Wala akong nakikitang relasyon ng pag-uusap ni President Arroyo at ni President Obama [I don't see a relation between the rape case and Mrs. Arroyo's conversation with President Obama]," said Bello. "Hindi ko nakikita yung relasyon ng kaso ni Nicole against Daniel Smith [I don't see its connection to Nicole's case against Daniel Smith]," he added. - GMANews.TV More Videos
Most Popular
