Now, it's final. 3,275 : 0. The Champion retains the title on an extended game.
At least no one could say it was a hometown decision.
The judges have spoken. And they were all women.
Lady Justice was never so cruel, nor gender blind. Simply blind...
GMA News TV has pointed out that the Philippines has many ‘Nicoles’:
The Philippines has many “Nicoles," but only Suzette Nicolas was served justice when the Makati Regional Trial Court convicted Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith of rape on December 4, 2006.
From 1981 to 1988, when the US military bases were in the Philippines, 3,274 cases of abuse of women and children were filed against US servicemen in Subic and Clark. However, not one of the US servicemen was convicted.
Data from the Olongapo City prosecutor's office showed that during the same period, cases of rape and sexual abuse involving children ages 11 to 16 were filed against US servicemen. Another 82 cases of sexual abuse involving young women were also recorded. All of these cases were dismissed.
Ninety-seven of these cases, in which 15 children were involved, were filed by the non-government Bikolana Gabriela against American soldiers in Clark and Subic.
Smith was the first-ever American military personnel who was convicted of committing a crime on Philippine soil since the establishment of the US military bases in Subic, Zambales and Clark in Angeles, Pampanga and the passage of the Visiting Forces Agreement in 1999. - GMANews.TV
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ReplyDeleteJustice in this country suck. I don't know if the government don't know about that or they just ignore it. Maybe they are just scared to those Americans and they don't want to lose our friendly relation with the Americans but is it right just to ignore those cases of abuses that our so-called "friends" did to our fellow countrymen? Hindi ba makita ng gobyerno natin na binabastos na ang lahi natin? It's hopeless talaga...even the women and children here in our own country,di mapagtanggol...We must give to them what is right and kung kinakailangan dapat matuto tayong ipagtanggol ang ating sarili laban sa kanila. Tao lang din naman sila ah, di naman sila mga diyos so bakit tayo matatakot sa kanila??
ReplyDeleteJan Bernard F. Lejano CBE/MMG POLISCI C37
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ReplyDeleteIt is shocking to know that all 3275 cases against the US servicemen were not filed. This clearly shows the bad situation the judicial system in this country is. How can government leaders leave such a dreadful thing this way? This condition has to be sorted out hastily.
ReplyDeleteJin Hwa Choi [DLSU CBE POLISCI C33]
Does our country have no judicial system when it comes to women? or is just because an American is involved so they turned a blind eye? Justice in the Philippines is so unfair. Aren't the judicial system made for its people? then just because a foreigner was involved they ignored the pleas of the Filipinos who seek justice.
ReplyDeleteJacqueline Shi Ong [DLSU CBE POLISCI C33]
i think i know why this is happening. The Philippine gov't wants to retain their good relationship with the U.S. gov't. They're afraid that if an american was convicted here in the philippines, and wasn't freed at any cost, their relationship will be ruined. We don't want that to happen BUT we can't LET them do whatever they want to us, even if they're the most powerful country.
ReplyDelete- Ivan Brodeth (CBE C36)
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ReplyDeleteIsn't is too unfair? Most probably, those abused women and children had less power that the U.S. servicemen. But does it mean to say that the those who don't have power don't even deserve their own rights. I believe that this is really wrong. Everyone deserves their own rights. If the court doesn't support this innocent people then, who would? Everytime I encounter some cases here in the Philippines, it really disappoints me alot, to the point that it really disgusts me. It is like their is no justice in this country. Mostly, foreigners would always be at loss in cases of accidents. However, what overpowers that just is money. I even had to give them money to right a report! Well, it is really exhausting and sick to find out how corrupt the officials are. But don't you find it a disgrace to do it to your own naionhood? I mean, which is more important? Your countrymen or money/power? There are certain precious things that can't be bought by material things.
ReplyDeleteDa Eun K. Lee (CBE)
C33 POLISCI(DLSU)
Colonial mentality is too strong in this country. Foreigners are given much more importance than the citizens themselves. The Filipinos should not put themselves under the power of the foreigners. Because of this practice, the foreigners think that they are always superior and think that they can do anything in our land and with our people. If this will continue, our country will never progress. We will always be the underdog for we don't believe in what we can do.
ReplyDeleteIn the Subic rape case, I can't fully blame Smith. Nicole has done something wrong as well. I think that she badly wants to be associated with those foreigners. This is the problem with Filipinas. Almost all want to have a foreign boyfriend or husband. Thinking that they will be rich through this. Thus, foreigners like Smith took this opportunity to do something wrong. Filipino women should be extra careful. If not, others will make use of this to abuse them.
Maria Theresa M. Nogoy
C33 POLISCI
ID #: 10935746
The statement signed by Nicole she left for the states has taken many Filipinos by surprise especially for those women who fought for her, the Gabriella. What a shame. Should we blame Nicole? We are confused. Is it just about a rape case? We wouldn’t know now.
ReplyDeleteThe case has been closed. The US – Philippines relationship seems more important than serving justice. None of these US military will be convicted of any crime. None of them will be punished. So for the victims…maybe its best that they accept the comfort that will be offered to them after they are abused. Sad truth. But, there’s no other way of getting justice against the Super power.
Jo, Hyun Min, Lee (AnYeong)
POLISCI_C33
ID:10192756
This events shows one concept in politics and that is power. Simple but true.
ReplyDeleteSo much power cause overload that's why we don't have the right justice. It's also one concept in life, SACRIFICE.. Things do need to be sacrifice in order to be better.. Heads or tails still we lose..
That's why America love Philippines.. :D
A lot of women were behind Nicole, praying for justice. Before her, there were a lot of other women who were sexually abused by American soldiers. The only difference between her and the others is that the person who wronged her was judged guilty. After the court's verdict people celebrated Nicole's victory. But that victory didn't last long... Nicole's victory would've been a great example to encourage others who were also wronged to fight back. This also would've left an impression that the Filipinos are no longer push overs, that the Filipinos fight for what is right and that they fight to protect their country and people .It's a shame that she changed her story.
ReplyDeleteKim Do Hyun
C36
Jo, Hyun Min, Lee
ReplyDeletePolisci_C33
ID#: 10929576
wow..He raped 3275 women and all of those cases were dismissed? The justice in this country just plain wrong! 3275..Isn't that too much? How could they still think that he was innocent? The Philippines is being too nice to the foreigners.Why?? I had this experience ones in the airplane. The stewardesses were concerned with all the foreigners but paying no concern to all the Filipinos. It just shows how the Philippines is really like. In public or in court.
ReplyDeleteDyan Leah Cheng
CBE POLISCI C33
We actually tackled this case in our sociology class last year, back in HS.
ReplyDeleteWe were debating on the possibilities of whether Nicole truly is innocent or she denies having consensual intercourse with Smith bec. sources say, she had a boyfriend at that time she was in subic. Either she cheated or is really innocent, we cannot know for sure but one thing's certain; 'justice' can hardly be put in the same sentence with 'court' nowadays. :|
CBE MMG N. Garcia
I remember my father's rambling... "Eh Amerikano naman ang kumokontrol sa Pilipinas eh."
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking it is true now. If we can't even give justice to our own people, why the hell do we even stand as a country anymore? *shakes head*
Rach C. (Damage/d Contol) PoliSci c39
The rape cases dismissed just shows how we love the Americans. We let them exploit our resources and citizens, women in particular. Justice really is blind. I despise the judges who dismissed the cases even though there is enough evidence. The mere idea of raping our women and children makes me furious. Is this the a part of the agreement or are these perks of the Americans? I also do not know why our leaders kept quiet during these times. Is there something in return to keep quiet? With what happened, it just shows how dependent we are to the Americans.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the backing out of Nicole in her case shows weakness in our part. would we allow this to happen again to our women and children? I do not know what reason she has why she backed out but was she not thinking of what this might be for her and for the country. There are some implications with her backing out. Nicole made our nation stupid! Before the judge's decision, i sympathize her but now i loathe her. This is a clear example how Filipinos are blinded by the opportunities and/or money that America offers, even selling her own country to a foreigner. How ungrateful. Thanks to the people who made the conviction possible.
IAN VELONZA
MMG
GRABEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! We shouldn't think that we're below the Americans! We're people too. God didn't make them higher than us to appear that when they commit mistakes, they should come out innocent. We weren't made like that too. We were equal to begin with. We are all humans who deserve the same level of respect because each of us have dignities of our own. We're not animals nor objects that we could just abuse. We have feelings and we think! That's why we're different. We shouldn't be pushed overs. With or without the government, we shouldn't allow these actions to prevail :/
ReplyDeleteKaryll Puray (POLISCI C39)
What’s so shocking about the 3,275 cases of rape in the Philippines? Our country is really full of crime and it is becoming more widespread. And this just proves that Philippine government is really biased when it comes to the Americans and the Filipinos.
ReplyDeleteKaren Ann Yang (CBE-MMG) block 18
POLISCI C37
Despite the fact that I am a woman, I am most intrigued by Nicole's consistency with her statements. I believe that she must be given justice by having Smith convicted of rape. No woman should be treated in such a way. Nevertheless, I was shocked of her sudden twist in statements, saying that it was no longer rape, instead, she was well aware of that incident. UHHHHH... HELLO? You made us so confused! It was like fighting for nothing. She should be thankful that feminist groups defended her, so I was so disappointed in her. I suddenly don't know what she really deserves. There are even speculating rumors that she was paid by the US to alter her previous statements and all, but that's just so dumb!
ReplyDeleteWhat's happening to the world? Even a woman's dignity is also being played. What the hell |:
Nicky Manzano
ReplyDeleteCBE-MMG
C37
Nicole Tracy M. Manzano
ReplyDelete(whole name)