Comments on: The Subic Rape Case in Relation to the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) http://subicrapecase.wordpress.com Updates and other information on the Subic Rape Case Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:01:41 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: kay http://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-4870 kay Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:26:30 +0000 https://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-4870 for some reasons vfa has a good effect to our arm forces, it shares knowledge, techniques & strategies in battle & share informations that can help us protect our territories and prevent terrorist attack but the bad side about vfa is that is so unfair for the Filipino's, it should be amended. the provision the gives special privileges to uniformed and civil employees of the us department should be abolish or can be retain and the same special previleges should apply to all Filipinos who are also member of the arm forces and also philippine law should apply to all even if your foreigner as long as you are standing in our territory. for some reasons vfa has a good effect to our arm forces, it shares knowledge, techniques & strategies in battle & share informations that can help us protect our territories and prevent terrorist attack but the bad side about vfa is that is so unfair for the Filipino’s, it should be amended. the provision the gives special privileges to uniformed and civil employees of the us department should be abolish or can be retain and the same special previleges should apply to all Filipinos who are also member of the arm forces and also philippine law should apply to all even if your foreigner as long as you are standing in our territory.

]]> By: DJB Rizalist http://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-4849 DJB Rizalist Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:01:23 +0000 https://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-4849 For those who've been following closely the Subic Bay Rape Case, please read this excerpt from Republic Act 8505, which was mentioned tonight on ABSCBN's Media In Focus tv show with Cheche Lazaro by the lawyers Evalyn Ursua and Katrina Legarda: Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998. Section 5. Protective Measures. - At any stage of the investigation, prosecution and trial of a complaint for rape, the police officer, the prosecutor, the court and its officers, as well as the parties to the complaint shall recognize the right to privacy of the offended party and the accused. Towards this end, the police officer, prosecutor, or the court to whom the complaint has been referred may, whenever necessary to ensure fair and impartial proceedings, and after considering all circumstances for the best interest of the parties, order a closed-door investigation, prosecution or trial and that the name and personal circumstances of the offended party and/or the accused, or any other information tending to establish their identities, and such circumstances or information on the complaint shall not be disclosed to the public. Most disingenuously and dishonestly neither of the two Lady Lawyers bothered to mention this entirely fair and reasonable parity of rights to privacy of BOTH the "offended party" and of the "accused." Imagine indeed that Party A is accused of raping Party B. Until trial and appeals processes are exhausted we, the public, cannot really presume to know whether the accused is guilty or not, nor whether the accuser is telling the truth or not. Therefore it only stands to reason and the essential sense of fairness that the privacy of BOTH parties out to be kept out of the public domain. RA 8505 explicitly demands it as the solemn duty and responsibility of "the police officer, the prosecutor, the court and its officers, as well as the parties to the complaints". The outrageous thing about Ursua's and Legarda's statements that were broadcast tonight was their accusation against the Philippine Daily Inquirer (and "anyone else who published the full real name and pictures of Nicole") -- that they had criminally violated this law, RA 8505 and three other similar laws, in their March 18 report on the recantation affidavit of Nicole. Yet is it not crystal clear that the principal obligation to maintain privacy of BOTH parties actually rests on the Courts and on the lawyers?? For those who’ve been following closely the Subic Bay Rape Case, please read this excerpt from Republic Act 8505, which was mentioned tonight on ABSCBN’s Media In Focus tv show with Cheche Lazaro by the lawyers Evalyn Ursua and Katrina Legarda:

Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998.

Section 5. Protective Measures. – At any stage of the investigation, prosecution and trial of a complaint for rape, the police officer, the prosecutor, the court and its officers, as well as the parties to the complaint shall recognize the right to privacy of the offended party and the accused. Towards this end, the police officer, prosecutor, or the court to whom the complaint has been referred may, whenever necessary to ensure fair and impartial proceedings, and after considering all circumstances for the best interest of the parties, order a closed-door investigation, prosecution or trial and that the name and personal circumstances of the offended party and/or the accused, or any other information tending to establish their identities, and such circumstances or information on the complaint shall not be disclosed to the public.

Most disingenuously and dishonestly neither of the two Lady Lawyers bothered to mention this entirely fair and reasonable parity of rights to privacy of BOTH the “offended party” and of the “accused.”

Imagine indeed that Party A is accused of raping Party B. Until trial and appeals processes are exhausted we, the public, cannot really presume to know whether the accused is guilty or not, nor whether the accuser is telling the truth or not. Therefore it only stands to reason and the essential sense of fairness that the privacy of BOTH parties out to be kept out of the public domain.

RA 8505 explicitly demands it as the solemn duty and responsibility of “the police officer, the prosecutor, the court and its officers, as well as the parties to the complaints”.

The outrageous thing about Ursua’s and Legarda’s statements that were broadcast tonight was their accusation against the Philippine Daily Inquirer (and “anyone else who published the full real name and pictures of Nicole”) — that they had criminally violated this law, RA 8505 and three other similar laws, in their March 18 report on the recantation affidavit of Nicole. Yet is it not crystal clear that the principal obligation to maintain privacy of BOTH parties actually rests on the Courts and on the lawyers??

]]> By: monmon http://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-4745 monmon Wed, 04 Mar 2009 07:13:41 +0000 https://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-4745 i hate VFA..its unfair! i hate VFA..its unfair!

]]> By: Fred Smith http://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-4710 Fred Smith Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:47:17 +0000 https://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-4710 "The VFA is total humbug. It gives right to US personnel such as that they do not need to abide the laws like passport and visa, driver’s license and the like. It seems that VFA is all for the Americans, Americans and Americans. What about the Filipinos? How come they need to abide by laws like the driver’s license and such?" You people need to get a clue. Look at the VFA2 it extends the same privileges to members of the AFP when they are sent for training or a school based in the US. “The VFA is total humbug. It gives right to US personnel such as that they do not need to abide the laws like passport and visa, driver’s license and the like. It seems that VFA is all for the Americans, Americans and Americans. What about the Filipinos? How come they need to abide by laws like the driver’s license and such?”

You people need to get a clue. Look at the VFA2 it extends the same privileges to members of the AFP when they are sent for training or a school based in the US.

]]> By: joms http://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-4683 joms Wed, 18 Feb 2009 06:35:26 +0000 https://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-4683 i pity ESTELLA for having such illogical commentary. VFA is not only an issue of an individual that gets drunk and being raped by the american soldiers. Even a mentally retarded person has a "human right". And not only human rights are being violated by this agreement. The Philippine Constitution itself is being over ruled by the VFA which only serves for the interests of the US Government. It is evident that the Philippines is still being Colonialized by the US Government. And it is really depressing that the Country's Political Leaders doesn't seem to do anything to fight for the interests of its' own people. i pity ESTELLA for having such illogical commentary.

VFA is not only an issue of an individual that gets drunk and being raped by the american soldiers. Even a mentally retarded person has a “human right”. And not only human rights are being violated by this agreement. The Philippine Constitution itself is being over ruled by the VFA which only serves for the interests of the US Government.

It is evident that the Philippines is still being Colonialized by the US Government. And it is really depressing that the Country’s Political Leaders doesn’t seem to do anything to fight for the interests of its’ own people.

]]> By: estella http://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-4361 estella Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:48:12 +0000 https://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-4361 Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I'm not saying you guys are wrong or anything. I just want to say this, just because some Americans made bad choices and mistreated some people or whatever, doesn't mean that all Americans are like that. Not all of them act that way. Some Filipinos break the law in the US too, but the Americans don't start hating Filipinos because of it. Also, I'm not taking anybody's side, but the girls were obviously not drinkers. They don't know much about drinks, that's why the guys ordered drinks for them. Ahm.. hello! If you're not a drinker, why drink? Why drink that much, and on an empty stomach? That's foolish! You could've said no, you didn't want anymore drinks, or could have asked for non alcoholic drinks instead. Oh and another thing, they obviously didn't know these guys very well. Why would you go out drinking with guys you hardly know and get really drunk like that? Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I’m not saying you guys are wrong or anything. I just want to say this, just because some Americans made bad choices and mistreated some people or whatever, doesn’t mean that all Americans are like that. Not all of them act that way. Some Filipinos break the law in the US too, but the Americans don’t start hating Filipinos because of it.
Also, I’m not taking anybody’s side, but the girls were obviously not drinkers. They don’t know much about drinks, that’s why the guys ordered drinks for them. Ahm.. hello! If you’re not a drinker, why drink? Why drink that much, and on an empty stomach? That’s foolish! You could’ve said no, you didn’t want anymore drinks, or could have asked for non alcoholic drinks instead. Oh and another thing, they obviously didn’t know these guys very well. Why would you go out drinking with guys you hardly know and get really drunk like that?

]]> By: Yoha http://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-2253 Yoha Sat, 24 Feb 2007 06:18:43 +0000 https://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-2253 The VFA is total humbug. It gives right to US personnel such as that they do not need to abide the laws like passport and visa, driver's license and the like. It seems that VFA is all for the Americans, Americans and Americans. What about the Filipinos? How come they need to abide by laws like the driver's license and such? The VFA itself violates the Philippines Constitution. I believe it needs to be abolished or reformatted, at the very least. The Americans, visiting the Philippines, should respect our law. Every word, every line, every letter of the Philippine Constitution. I do not believe that we need the U.S. The U.S. needs US, the PHILIPPINES. The VFA is total humbug. It gives right to US personnel such as that they do not need to abide the laws like passport and visa, driver’s license and the like. It seems that VFA is all for the Americans, Americans and Americans. What about the Filipinos? How come they need to abide by laws like the driver’s license and such? The VFA itself violates the Philippines Constitution. I believe it needs to be abolished or reformatted, at the very least. The Americans, visiting the Philippines, should respect our law. Every word, every line, every letter of the Philippine Constitution. I do not believe that we need the U.S. The U.S. needs US, the PHILIPPINES.

]]> By: mark nino de asis http://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-2248 mark nino de asis Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:47:35 +0000 https://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-2248 Even the higest law violated by the VFA. The constitution itself became a dot compared to that VFA circle.What will be the first to protect? Is it the national interest or a foreign "irrverent" treaty? Are politicians today encumbering from long spell? What happen to the equal protection clause? I think, we should consult first our dependent culture to the US. We, the Filipino people,especially those lawmakers who were topnotch lawyers, congressmen, and senators, couldn't use our minds when dealing with white eagles. Ang problema nasa dugo natin, alam naman natin na dehado tayo sa kanila nagpapadehado pa tayo.Lalo na yung mga ibinoto natin, they are "PIMPS" to prostitute us from the white abusiveness in exchange for "POLITICAL INTEREST" AND "PERPETUAL POWER". Tingin ko mas matalino pa ako sa mga hunghang na mga mababatas ng ating kawawang bansa. I hope someday that this nation will produce a more nationalistic hero to contradict the 'American Dream" and present a more definitive " FILIPINO DREAM POLICY" SUCK the POLITICIANS !!!MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS sUCK U.S.A. Even the higest law violated by the VFA. The constitution itself became a dot compared to that VFA circle.What will be the first to protect? Is it the national interest or a foreign “irrverent” treaty? Are politicians today encumbering from long spell? What happen to the equal protection clause? I think, we should consult first our dependent culture to the US. We, the Filipino people,especially those lawmakers who were topnotch lawyers, congressmen, and senators, couldn’t use our minds when dealing with white eagles. Ang problema nasa dugo natin, alam naman natin na dehado tayo sa kanila nagpapadehado pa tayo.Lalo na yung mga ibinoto natin, they are “PIMPS” to prostitute us from the white abusiveness in exchange for “POLITICAL INTEREST” AND “PERPETUAL POWER”. Tingin ko mas matalino pa ako sa mga hunghang na mga mababatas ng ating kawawang bansa.

I hope someday that this nation will produce a more nationalistic hero to contradict the ‘American Dream” and present a more definitive ” FILIPINO DREAM POLICY”

SUCK the POLITICIANS !!!MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS sUCK U.S.A.

]]> By: reymark http://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-2234 reymark Tue, 06 Feb 2007 10:51:57 +0000 https://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-2234 the statements above are fair stated... but for my opinion this VFA thing can only destroy the lives of all Filipino's. Look what have happened to Nicole, at this very moment shes celebrating that she have won the case. The things happening in our country is part of a socio-political issues, serenaded with the people here in the Philippines it is a act of abusing the law of our country. We are already involved to the wars happening in the world. We are just returning to 1900 to 1950 happenings. Many people were affected of this war, particularly the counties that were consider part of the allied force. Look at the first question written at the top, there was this VFA II agreement that was filed in America, but the agreement that were written in this file was not the same as the agreement that was signed here in our country. the statements above are fair stated… but for my opinion this VFA thing can only
destroy the lives of all Filipino’s. Look what have happened to Nicole, at this very moment shes celebrating that she have won the case. The things happening in our country is part of a socio-political issues, serenaded with the people here in the Philippines it is a act of abusing the law of our country. We are already involved to the wars happening in the world. We are just returning to 1900 to 1950 happenings. Many people were affected of this war, particularly the counties that were consider part of the allied force. Look at the first question written at the top, there was this VFA II agreement that was filed in America, but the agreement that were written in this file was not the same as the agreement that was signed here in our country.

]]> By: miliza http://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-2219 miliza Fri, 02 Feb 2007 08:04:55 +0000 https://subicrapecase.wordpress.com/the-subic-rape-case-in-relation-to-the-visiting-forces-agreement/#comment-2219 whether it's in the law, the question is does it need to be abolish? For years, Filipinos have stayed in ignorance in relations with the Americans. Respect me if I say, the government does need the vfa because they could profit for it. If we think that we would be paralyzed without the State's aid, then we will always be. Let's learn to stand on our own, but still it would take too long...with Phil.Gov. system???naahhh, i do hope so!! whether it’s in the law, the question is does it need to be abolish? For years, Filipinos have stayed in ignorance in relations with the Americans. Respect me if I say, the government does need the vfa because they could profit for it. If we think that we would be paralyzed without the State’s aid, then we will always be. Let’s learn to stand on our own, but still it would take too long…with Phil.Gov. system???naahhh, i do hope so!!

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