Four US marines charged with rape

[Judi Lynn]

Four US marines charged with rape
From: Agence France-Presse From correspondents in Olongapo
December 27, 2005

FOUR US marines and a Filipino driver have been charged with raping a 22-year-old Filipina woman, prosecutors said today, in a case that has reopened old wounds in the former US colony.

After a lengthy preliminary investigation today, prosecutors concluded that the five men, accused of assaulting the woman in a van on November 1 in the former US Naval base of Subic Bay north of Manila, had conspired to commit rape.
But two other marines initially named as suspects were cleared after evidence indicated they were not in the van during the alleged incident, prosecutors said.

"We expect the warrants of arrest to be issued as early as next week," prosecutor Raymond Viray told AFP.

"The case is strong. There is evidence. Conviction hinges on the credibility of the victim and we are banking on that.
(snip/...)

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17672860-401,00.html

[WildClarySage]

1. I hope that Filipino courts take rape more seriously than most

American courts do.

[0007]

2. There is a mentality here that I don't understand -

Department of Foreign Affairs with Philippines officials, refused to disclose the whereabouts of the servicemen.

“I cannot comment exactly on where they are now,” he said when asked, adding that the accused would be made available to Philippine authorities.

“They are innocent until proven guilty, but if they are found guilty, we find this an outrageous crime,” Jones said. “We want to extend our condolence to the victim and the family.”

Filipino Newspaper sez

[go west young man]

3. That case is pretty thin there.

First she can't remember who was there. Only one marine had sex with her and she willingly got in the van on her own accord. As far as bruises go plenty of people get bruises during sex. I'm not saying it didn't happen but the whole case looks pretty shaky. I was in Okinanwa for 8 months back in 87 with the marines and the "buy me drinky" girls were always doing stuff like going off with guys and having quick sex. Its common.

[GregW]

4. Rape vans! Rape vans! Rape vans! Rape vans!

:eyes:

[goforit]

5. More sick bastards to account for?

[keta11]

6. We support the troops!!!

[Xenotime]

7. LOL

Good one!

[goforit]

8. OMG!!!........Now that is creative!!!

[0007]

9. Please delete immediately.

[Bigmack]

10. I thought Subic Bay was closed?....

Why would Marines be Olongapo if Subic is closed?

Maybe Rape.... maybe didn't pay... maybe roughed up a girl... who knows.
Imperial troops do pretty much what they want in the conquered provinces.

I remember Olangapo clearly... well, maybe not so clearly. It always reminded me of the bar scene in the first Star Wars movie. "All the scum and villainy from ..."

[Judi Lynn]

11. US Marines face grim jail if moved to Philippine custody

US Marines face grim jail if moved to Philippine custody
Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:22 AM ET

SAN FERNANDO, Philippines (Reuters) - Four U.S. Marines charged with raping a Filipino woman may be held in a rundown, overcrowded city jail if they are moved from American to Philippine custody while awaiting trial.

Washington has yet to respond publicly to a request by the Philippines for the transfer of the men, but prosecutors filed rape charges against them on Tuesday and plan to get arrest warrants early in the new year.

The United States is likely to invoke the Visiting Forces Agreement between the two allies to keep the accused Marines in

U.S. embassy custody, but prosecutors have said the Philippine courts could exert their jurisdiction.
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-12-28T102208Z_01_DIT707546_RTRUKOC_0_US-CRIME-PHILIPPINES-USA.xml&archived=False

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Poor, poor things. Surely hope they'll be protected after gang-raping the lady, then throwing her out of a moving vehicle.

[Judi Lynn]

12. Two US marines cleared of raping charges leave Manila for base in Japan

UPDATED: 16:36, December 29, 2005
Two US marines cleared of raping charges leave Manila for base in Japan

Two US marines who were suspected of participating in raping a Filipina in Subic Bay last month were released from US embassy in Manila after they were cleared of the charge, a local TV reported Thursday.

According to ABS-CBN News Channel, the two American servicemen, identified as Corey Burris and Albert Lara, have been confirmed by US embassy to return to their home unit in the 31st marine expeditionary unit stationed in Okinawa, Japan.

The Olongapo City Prosecutor's Office Tuesday said that Burris and Lara provided adequate evidence to prove they were not in the van, where the 22-year-old victim alleged to have been raped by six US marines on Nov. 1.

However, the prosecution office has filed the charges of raping against the other four US marines and a Filipino driver of the van where the crime allegedly occurred.

The prosecutors expected that the accused US marines, who are currently detained in US embassy, can be kept under custody of the Philippine authorities after the court issues the arrest warrants.
(snip/...)

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200512/29/eng20051229_231659.html