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Swift justice for raped Filipino woman by US marines! Terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement!

Innabuyog-Gabriela

November 8, 2005

Two horrible incidents happened last November 1. While everyone was anxious and angry about the implementation of the expanded-Value Added Tax, another gross economic burden to Filipino women and their families, a 22-year old Filipino woman was gang-raped by 6 US Marines in Subic, Zambales.

Innabuyog-Gabriela Cordillera strongly condemns the military gang rape last November 1. We join the Filipino people’s demand to the Philippine government led by GMA to ensure that swift justice be delivered to the victim and no whitewash be made on the case. The perpetrators must surrender to Philippine jurisdiction and an immediate prosecution should be conducted. We urge GMA to call for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators without bail. GMA will certainly face nationwide indignation and increasing calls for her ouster if she fails to ensure justice by allowing the US government to invoke criminal immunity for US military troops who commit crimes while in Philippine soil.

This gang rape is the most recent war crime under the Visiting Forces Agreement which the Philippine government ratified in 1999 amid vehement protest from militant and patriotic groups nationwide including Innabuyog-Gabriela. The gang rape is clearly a display of gross disrespect, contempt and machismo by US military forces welcomed by the Philippines government as “visitors” under the Visiting Forces Agreement.

This case is not only a test of the criminal justice provisions of the US-RP Visiting Forces Agreement. It is a test whether or not GMA would act in favor of a young Filipino woman violated by the US Marines who are in the country because of the VFA. The rape of one woman is not a rape of just one woman, but a completely dishonorable offense against the whole nation. It is an act of terror against the Filipino people!

Innabuyog points out that the Philippine government has not learned its lesson from history when it comes to its military relations with the US. In 1987, a US serviceman stationed in the US military base in Olongapo and accused in the rape of 12 year-old Rosario Baluyot, was whisked out of the country to avoid being tried here. The girl later died from sepsis as a result of a piece of a broken vibrator that had lodged in her cervix. During the period of the US Military Bases in the Philippines, reported sexual abuse cases perpetrated by US soldiers on Filipino women reached over a number of 82 (aged 16 and above) while 15 cases happened on children.

During the conduct of a Balikatan exercise in July 2002, Buyongbuyong Isnijal was shot when US servicemen were patrolling the area of their military exercises in Lamitan, Basilan. In June 21, 2004, a civilian Arsid Baharon was shot by an American soldier who was participating in another Balikatan exercises in barangay San Roque, Zamboanga City.

The military exercises under the Visiting Forces Agreement not only allow the presence of US troops in the Philippines. It is a direct assault against our people, especially women and children; it is a direct assault on our national sovereignty.

This recent war crime under the Visiting Forces Agreement renews the commitment of Innabuyog and its allies in demanding the Philippine government to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement. Balikatan exercises should be stopped and US troops be disallowed in Philippine soil. Innabuyog will hold GMA responsible for her offering unwavering support to US wars of aggression and for welcoming the US military troops in the Philippines.

Justice for the Filipino woman rape victim! Prosecute immediately the US Marine-perpetrators! Grant NO IMMUNITY to the perpetrators!

US Troops, OUT Now! Junk the Visiting Forces Agreement! End US-Philippines joint military exercises!

OUST GMA! #

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