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Post by apol on Nov 23, 2005 4:58:32 GMT -5
One of the burning political issues in the country today is whether or not the 6 US servicemen accused of raping a 21 year old Filipina should remain in Philippine custody while pending trial. As we all know, we are a signatory of the US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), therefore, we are bound by its provisions. As the news have it, VFA allows Philippine custody of American servicemen but only for a period of 1 year. And of course, knowing how our justice system works, some groups have called for the relaxation of the 1 year rule, saying that said period is too short to warrant the administration of justice. But then, we cannot just change the rules. We're dealing here with US personnel. Had they've been say, Malaysians, it could've been a different thing altogether.
So now, ladies and gentelemen, devcom people, and members of the bown race, you are called to resolve this issue: whether or not the US personnel accused of raping a 21 year old Filipina should remain in Philippine custody while pending trial, notwithstanding the 1 year rule set forth in the VFA.
SO? What say you?
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Post by pterribilis on Nov 23, 2005 6:10:44 GMT -5
Hi, I'm an american and I believe if those servicemen have been found guilty of raping the 21y/o Filipina, they should recieve whatever the penalty is for rape in the philippines. Although I do understand the political concerns when punishing citizens of influential countries such as the USA, I also believe criminals should be treated as such no matter what country they are from.
Cut their smile's off! or ...maybe the government should bound them naked to a pole for others to harass and terrorize them as they did to the poor woman they raped.
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Post by leahann on Mar 15, 2007 13:06:17 GMT -5
i know this is quite late to react about this thing that the US serviceman has been found guilty. this article about the filipina raped by the US navy has been published by the (US) Time magazine. according to the article, the news about filipinas being raped has been existing for a long time, and that daniel smith (being found guilty) is just a feeding lamb showing that everything is fair, that the US needed the Filipino sympathy and trust to support the (losing) Iraq war. well, whatever the reason and decision about this case, i know this is not just as simple rape case against the US navy guy and the filipina woman. americans has a lot of resources and they are smart enough to turn bad to good and good to bad. it is an issue of politics, stability and security. it is an isuue of Philippine government and US government. it is an issue of morality. still, the PI government is silent.why?its painful to admit, but we need the US. (and im guilty, serving the US and not my own country...but does anyone have a choice?)
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