'Nicole' may have been pressured to leave RP - solons

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino rape victim "Nicole" may have been pressured by the United States government into virtually giving up the fight against convicted rapist Lance Corporal Daniel Smith - and possibly with the help of the Arroyo administration. House committee on human rights chairman Lorenzo Tañada III made the statement Tuesday after lawyer Evalyn Ursua announced that "Nicole" terminated the lawyer's services on Monday and is now in the US because "there is no justice in the Philippines." "I believe the US with the help of this administration pressured Nicole to terminate Atty. Ursua in exchange for a better life in the US," Tañada said in a text message to GMANews.TV. "I guess the [Foreign Affairs] Sec. [Alberto] Romulo did not understand the SC decision. It ordered him to negotiate the transfer of Smith to Philippine custody and not Nicole to American custody," he added in jest, referring to the Supreme Court ruling last February 11 saying that Smith - who is detained in the US Embassy because of his guilty conviction by a Makati regional trial court branch - should be moved to a local jail. Smith's appeal is pending before the Court of Appeals. Tañada said the CA should not be influenced by the latest development in the issue, and should "not be pressured" into acquitting the US serviceman. "The CA should decide the case based on the facts and the evidence presented," the lawmaker said. Similarly, Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo told GMANews.TV in a text message that "pressure from whatever source is prime suspect for this turn of events." For his part, House justice committee chair Matias Defensor Jr. said it is the US which is the cause of injustice and not the Philippines, where he said "everything" is working for the rape victim. "USA is the cause of injustice, a world power which makes Nicole a part of statistics," Defensor said in a text message to GMANews.TV. "We should have more faith in our justice system," he added. But Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros said "Nicole" can't be blamed for choosing to leave the country, saying the rape victim is not being supported by the Arroyo administration. "Di natin masisi si Nicole kung nasa US na siya dahil di sinusuportahan ng pamahalaan. Siya na ang biktima ang kailangan pang magtrabaho para makulong ang rapist [We can't blame here if she is now in the US because is not being supported by the government. She's the victim here but she's the one striving to put the rapist in jail]," she told GMANews.TV in a text message. - GMANews.TV