Subic case: four US Marines charged with rape

Four U.S. Marines refused to answer rape charges against them Friday in the Philippines, prompting the judge to enter a not guilty plea for them

It seems the Judge for the case threw out the motion of the DOJ for the 3 (Silkwood, Carpentier and Duplantis) to be just an accessory to the crime and (Smith) be the only one charged.

Pozon said he could not allow a downgrade of charges against the three "on the basis of the evidence not yet presented."

Lance Cpl Daniel Smith was actually the supposed date of the rape victim then others joined the two of them in the disco then subsequently inside the van were the alleged rape took place.

The defendants belong to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Force stationed on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa. They had finished counterterrorism maneuvers with Filipino troops when the alleged rape occurred in a van at the former U.S. Subic Bay naval base near Olongapo city, west of Manila. U.S. officials have refused to disclose their hometowns.

Well, under the Visiting Forces Agreement, US authorities don't have to turn over the American servicemen facing criminal charges. And that's why there's been lots of protest here for the scraping of the VFA.

The court hearing was the first public appearance by Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, Lance Cpl. Keith Silkwood, Lance Cpl. Dominic Duplantis and Staff Sgt. Chad Carpentier since the alleged Nov. 1 rape of a 22-year-old Philippine woman.

(By the way, the second and the third one looks cute.. hehehe. Yay).

Anyhow, there were actually six that was initially charged (Albert Lara and another one which I forgot the name). But due to lack of evidence, the prosecution dropped the charges against the two servicemen. I think they went back to Okinawa.

Rape is serious and if these men were guilty, they should be meted proper punishement but if they're not...let them go. They were here for some military exercise and then had some relaxation I guess. They probably shouldn't have gone out of the USS(whatever cos I dunno the name) or their quarters.

Many servicemen go to [war]torn places and they've had enough to deal with as it is. Not that I'm defending them over my own race but like I said if they're guilty punish them if not.. set them free (hehe, it's not like they're inside a jail though, but they've been inside the Embassy for the several months now I think).

The thing I don't get it is that, if you're a girl and then knowing that a lot of servicemen go to that bar you're going to wouldn't it be obvious that there's gonna be bad connotation about you(ie: bar girl), then you'd have avoided it. Not that I'm saying the girl is such..but of course even if..it's still not an excuse to commit rape.

Punish the guilty. If not..set free.

Okay enough, I know nobody reads my blogs thats why I bravely share my thoughts and opinions and I keep blabbing. Hehe.

How blogging is perceive in the Philippines

Blogging in RP still seen as an 'elitist' activity--blogger

BLOGGING is currently perceived as an “elitist” activity limited to people who are educated, have access to technology, and earn higher incomes, said Dr. Ronald Meinardus, blogger and resident representative of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

“In most countries, blogging is an activity done by higher-income and educated people,”

“In the Philippines, most political bloggers are from the opposition and are critical of the current administration. In short, political blogs in this country are mostly anti-Arroyo,” he added.

I do agree with that. Mostly the blogs (this one included) I read are the ones that has a lot to say about the Arroyo administration. But as far as blogging being an "elitist" activity..maybe somewhat it is. I mean to be able to blog you need a computer and majority of Filipinos doesn't have one and those who has access to a computer and do blog doesn't really blog about political scene or current events. They would rather spend their time playing pc games or going to sites like My Space or Friendster or surf porn. Yay. Things I don't really do online.

So am I an elitist? Hardly!

Happy Easter

Rejoice for Christ has risen.

Whats with eggs and bunnies during easter? I don't like bunnies. We had one several years ago but after a few days, he died. The poor thing was left inside a cage in the garden in a pouring rain. Somebody forgot to bring it inside the house. Aww.

The world through the eyes of a lensman

View everything here and know more about life and nature.

How do I love thee (cellphone) let me count the hits!

This Washington Post article cracks me up! Hahahaa.

To paraphrase the Marine Corps Rifleman's creed:

This is my cellphone. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My cellphone is my best friend. It is my life. My cellphone and myself know that what counts is not the calls we make or the cuteness of our ring tone. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit.

Some people are so damn attached to their cellphone even making it their weapon of mass/ self destruction!

Hit: Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) is accused of "stabbing" or "jabbing" a Capitol Hill policeman with her cellphone.

Hit: Supermodel Naomi Campbell allegedly smashed Housekepeer with her cellphone

Hit: Actor Crowe, you recall, was arrested last June for assaulting a New York hotel staffer with a telephone.

Meanwhile, the "cellphone bandit," Candice Martinez, stuck up four Virginia banks last year while talking on a cellphone...

Read whole article :)

Oh boy, am I glad I have a very ancient cellphone that only thing I can do with it is to call and text. Hahaha. Ooop, actually I can freaking hit somebody as well.It's biggie! Yay!