Philippine gov't promises no whitewash in rape case by US marines

The Philippine government said on Monday that there would be no "whitewash" in the investigation of alleged rape of a Filipino woman by five US marines in Subic Bay, the former US military base last week.

"There will be no whitewash in the investigation and we shall insist on our sovereign prerogatives," presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a statement.

"Both the Philippines and the United States share a strong interest in resolving this case through due process and the rule of law and fully in line with the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), " he said.

The spokesman has earlier called for calm after five US marines were accused of raping a 22-year-old Philippine student at Subic Bay last Tuesday, which triggered widespread condemnation and outrage.

A Filipino women's group Monday called on the US government to ensure that the US servicemen being implicated in the case are held to answer the allegations against them.

"We should get the commitment of the US government to ensure that they will bring the suspects to court. The danger is that the US government will be protecting its men," said Jean Enriquez, deputy director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women.

She said it would be better if the US servicemen were brought under the jurisdiction of the Philippine government.

Enriquez added that other than the testimony of the driver of a van where the victim was allegedly raped, there are medico-legal results that could prove the crime.

She also called for the scrapping of the VFA, saying it does not guarantee protection for Filipinos.

The VFA was signed in 1998 between the Philippines and the United States allowing US troops to visit the country regularly, years after the United States pulled out of its military bases in the Philippines.

Source: Xinhua