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Tag: Daniel Smith

Daniel Smith acquitted

‘Romantic episode,’ not rape, says CA

by Tetch Torres, Dona Pazzibugan

Philippine Daily Inquirer

The Court of Appeals has acquitted an American marine of raping a Filipina, saying the soldier and his accuser shared a “spontaneous, unplanned romantic episode.”

In a 71-page decision, the appellate court said Lance Corporal Daniel Smith and the victim, identified in court only as Nicole, were both intoxicated after a night out and were “carried away by their passions.”

The court also said Nicole flirted with Smith and led him on with “reckless abandon” and that there was “no evidence” that she was forced into sex.

Ang bugaw ni Nicole

Noong Lunes, sa interbyu kay Lorelei Fajardo, deputy presidential spokesperson tungkol sa tawag ni US President Barack Obama kay Gloria Arroyo, sinabi niya na hindi nila pinapabayaan si “Nicole” ang alias na binigay ng media kay Suzette Nicolas, ang nag-akusa ng rape kay US Marine Cpl Daniel Smith.

Sabi ni Fajardo, “We have not abandoned Nicole, we will be supporting her all the way. And I’m sure therewill be some kind of a compromise agreement between the two countries so that we can come into terms for the best, for what would be the best for Nicole. I think that should be clear enough.

Nang tanungin siya kung ano yung compromise agreement na yun, ang sagot ni Fajardo, “I think ang ibig ko lang sabihin about the compromise agreement is that we will fight for her and we will be supporting her. We have not abandoned her. Ongoing naman ang negotiation natin with the US on Nicole’s case. “

SC orders Smith placed under RP custody

Constitutionality of VFA affirmed

by Tetch Torres
Inquirer.net, Agence France-Presse

The Supreme Court has ruled that custody over convicted rapist Lance Corporal Daniel Smith should be transferred from US to Philippine authorities and ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to negotiate the move.

While affirming the constitutionality of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that governs the military exercises between the two countries, the high court said the subsequent accord which Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney signed and which granted the US custody over Smith was “in violation of the VFA.”