Philippine authorities hold evidence on US military rape case

Philippine authorities said that the evidence is strong against six US service men accused of gang- raping a 22-year-old Filipina at Subic Bay north of Manila, a local newspaper reported on Friday.

There were witnesses, including the Filipino driver of a rented van where the alleged rape took place after an annual US- Philippine joint military exercise, and a condom was even found inside the van, Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza as saying.

Charges have already been filed against the US service men on Thursday afternoon, Arreza said, with the preliminary hearing set early next week, possibly Monday.

"We have requested that the case be expedited in the interest of both parties," he said.

The complaint filed with the local prosecutor's office identified the US service men as Keith Silkwood, Daniel Smith, Albert Lara, Dominic Duplantis, Corey Barris and Chad Carpenter.

"We were able to successfully convince them not to leave with the ship, but we couldn't keep them because there were no arrest warrants issued yet," Arreza said. "We don't have that authority. It is the courts that issue them."

In case arrest warrants will be served, it is the department of justice that will serve them, he said.

The SBMA is extending legal and accommodation assistance to the woman, who is from Zamboanga, Mindanao of south Philippines and just spending a vacation in Subic, said Arreza.

"She's staying until the preliminary hearing," he said, adding that the woman's brother have already arrived in Subic from their hometown, and with their parents expected to arrive this weekend.

On Thursday, the six US Marine service men were barred from boarding their departing ship after a witness identified them as the culprits in the alleged gang rape on the All Saints' Day.

Authorities earlier said in a statement the alleged victim was in a karaoke bar when she met the Americans who invited her to go with them in a rented van. A few hours later, witnesses said they saw the woman being dumped unconscious from a van on a road.

The woman is said to be from a well-off family in the southern Philippine province, according to a foreign affairs official who asked not to be named. He added that the six accused Americans are not officers, but enlisted personnel.

A US-Philippine relations expert said the case is "one of the worst case scenarios you could expect under the VFA."

Ratified in 1999, The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is the document that details the rules on the treatment of US armed forces visiting the Philippines for training, joint military exercises with Philippine troops.

The agreement gives the US military access to Philippine ports and airports for refueling, supplies, repairs, and rest and recreation.

Source: Xinhua