MANILA, Philippines – The celebrated Subic rape case that caused sharp political division in the Philippines had stood out among other VFA-related cases in the country.Lawyer Evalyn Ursua, the rape victim’s lawyer, had described the conviction of Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith as “precedent-setting.” Experts were convinced the case could somehow prevent abuses by US servicemen coming to the Philippines.

Smith was found guilty of rape on Dec. 4 and sentenced to 40 years in prison. The case has tested relations between the Philippines and the United States and challenged the validity of the VFA (the Visiting Forces Agreement), which governs the conduct of US troops in the Philippines.

In the case Smith, it would seem that justice has been served – albeit on appeal at the Supreme Court, following Philippine legal procedure.

And that has been the problem, at least as far as Filipino supporters of Nicole are concerned. For them, it would seem that justice has been put on hold, for as long as Smith remains in custody of the US Embassy, under an agreement signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and US Ambassador Kristie Kenney.

On Wednesday (Feb. 11), the Supreme Court voided that agreement for not being in accordance with the VFA, the mutual defense agreement signed by the Philippines and the US in 1999.

The court ruled that Smith be placed under Philippine custody. But in practical terms, the status quo remains because the court allowed Smith to remain at the embassy until the governments of both countries can cut a new deal on the details of Smith’s turnover.

GMA News Research has compiled court records and other materials on Smith’s trial. Below are the links to the documents of the celebrated Subic rape case:

Links:

• »Burris Corey Counter Affidavit
• »Carpentier Chad Counter Affidavit
• »Duplantis Dominic Counter Affidavit
• »High Profile Rape Cases in the Philippines
• »Lara Albert Counter Affidavit
• »Silkwood Keith Counter Affidavit
• »Subic Rape Case Criminal Complaint
• »Subic rape case Statement of Usec Jesus Paredes
• »VFA Commission Chronology of Action in the Subic Case

GMA News Research/GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/148349/A-look-back-at-the-Subic-rape-case

GMANews 02/11/2009
“A look back at the Subic rape case”

Retrieved February 12, 2009.
Web site title: A look back at the Subic rape case
Web site: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/148349/A-look-back-at-the-Subic-rape-case

Sana nakipagchat na lang si Daniel Smith sa YM, all willing to be with him.

Yan kasi… tsk tsk tsk!
Mura naman ang internet cafe rates ngayo, as low as 10, 15, 20, 25 up. Kung gusto mo na medyo sosi, meron naman Netopia, Millenium Cafe (30 pesos half hour, araguy).

MANILA, Philippines – The hundreds of melon-headed whales stranded earlier off the coastal area of Pilar town in Bataan province have likely found their way into the open seas, governor Enrique Garcia, Jr. said Tuesday afternoon.

In a telephone interview with GMANews.TV, Garcia said as of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, there were no more sightings of the dolphins off the coastal areas of Hermosa and Mariveles towns near Pilar.

“Mino-monitor ko yung mga dolphins [melon-headed whales] from the helicopter. The whole coastline fronting Hermosa to Mariveles, they had no sightings. Wala na. Hopefully, nasa open seas na,” Garcia said.

[I have been monitoring the movements of the melon-headed whales from a helicopter and there are no sightings of the creatures from the whole coastline fronting Hermosa and Mariveles. Hopefully, they are now on open seas.]

A statement from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday quoted Commodore Luis Tuazon, Coast Guard Metro Manila – Central Luzon District commander – as saying that some 400 to 500 melon-headed whales were spotted off Pilar town about 4 a.m. Tuesday.

About three whales were reported dead.

In the interview, Garcia said authorities have yet to identify what caused the whales’ deaths. He also said Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) officials are still determining what could have caused the whales’ “stranding.”

Garcia added that the PCG’s search and rescue vessels are still patrolling the coastal areas to spot others which may not have joined the pod in the open sea.

“Yung coast guard, nandoon pa yung kanilang patrol boat. Yung BFAR, sabi nga ni Director [Malcolm] Sarmiento, they are still conducting an investigation,” Garcia said.

Sarmiento had earlier said a sea quake or a disturbance could have damaged the whales’ eardrums and sense of balance, causing them to be “disoriented” on their navigational patterns.

Garcia said that on Wednesday, authorities will scour the coastal areas anew to monitor similar occurences. He added that Environment Secretary Lito Atienza had also called for a meeting at 11 a.m. on Wednesday to discuss the incident.

According to WikiPedia, the Melon-headed Whale (Peponocephala electra; other names are many-toothed blackfish and electra dolphin) is a cetacean of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae). It is closely related to the Pygmy Killer Whale and Pilot Whale, and collectively these dolphin species are known by the common name blackfish. The Melon-headed Whale is widespread throughout the world’s tropical waters, although not often seen by humans on account of its preference for deep water. – Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/148125/Stranded-dolphins-found-way-to-open-seas-Bataan-governor-says

Dedace, Sophia. (2009).
“Stranded melon-headed whales found way to open seas, Bataan gov says…”

Retrieved February 11, 2009.
Web site title: Stranded melon-headed whales found way to open seas
Web site: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/148125/Stranded-dolphins-found-way-to-open-seas-Bataan-governor-says

Pati ba naman sa dagat nagta-trapik? Alisin na kasi ang MMDA, lol. Dapat sa mga dolphins na yan eh nag MRT na lang.