GMA NEWS: 'Nicole' may have been pressured to leave RP

[ghosthunter]

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/153053/N...ve-RP---solons

[SIZE="5"]'Nicole' may have been pressured to leave RP - solons[/SIZE]
JOHANNA CAMILLE SISANTE, GMANews.TV
03/17/2009 | 03:44 PM


MANILA, Philippines - Filipino rape victim "Nicole" may have been pressured by the United States government into virtually giving up the fight against convicted rapist Lance Corporal Daniel Smith - and possibly with the help of the Arroyo administration.

House committee on human rights chairman Lorenzo Tañada III made the statement Tuesday after lawyer Evalyn Ursua announced that "Nicole" terminated the lawyer's services on Monday and is now in the US because "there is no justice in the Philippines."

"I believe the US with the help of this administration pressured Nicole to terminate Atty. Ursua in exchange for a better life in the US," Tañada said in a text message to GMANews.TV.

"I guess the [Foreign Affairs] Sec. [Alberto] Romulo did not understand the SC decision. It ordered him to negotiate the transfer of Smith to Philippine custody and not Nicole to American custody," he added in jest, referring to the Supreme Court ruling last February 11 saying that Smith - who is detained in the US Embassy because of his guilty conviction by a Makati regional trial court branch - should be moved to a local jail.

Smith's appeal is pending before the Court of Appeals.

Tañada said the CA should not be influenced by the latest development in the issue, and should "not be pressured" into acquitting the US serviceman.

"The CA should decide the case based on the facts and the evidence presented," the lawmaker said.

Similarly, Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo told GMANews.TV in a text message that "pressure from whatever source is prime suspect for this turn of events."

For his part, House justice committee chair Matias Defensor Jr. said it is the US which is the cause of injustice and not the Philippines, where he said "everything" is working for the rape victim.

"USA is the cause of injustice, a world power which makes Nicole a part of statistics," Defensor said in a text message to GMANews.TV.

"We should have more faith in our justice system," he added.

But Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros said "Nicole" can't be blamed for choosing to leave the country, saying the rape victim is not being supported by the Arroyo administration.

"Di natin masisi si Nicole kung nasa US na siya dahil di sinusuportahan ng pamahalaan. Siya na ang biktima ang kailangan pang magtrabaho para makulong ang rapist [We can't blame here if she is now in the US because is not being supported by the government. She's the victim here but she's the one striving to put the rapist in jail]," she told GMANews.TV in a text message. - GMANews.TV

[tidus1203]

Can we all just move on. Di pa sila natuto eh. Power >>>> Justice. EH sila Erap nga Billion ang ninakaw pero ganda ng kulungan, may aircon na may TV pa. Eh mga snatcher P500 nabubulok sa maliit na kulungan...

[alwayz_yummy]

ganyan lang yan.. hay...

[kenzie]

shocked as hell :smshocked: seriously it was pretty much a done deal soon as they had custody of smith at the embassy ... saw this comin' form a mile away ... :sad:

[shadow]

pressure? or was it part of the settlement? she would be given an immigrant visa to the US.

how ironic american ang nag rape sa kanya then sa AMerica siya pupunta?

me think it's a payment for her silence na from the US gov't.

[Monseratto]

As much as we complain that our country's dignity has been mopped all over the floor again, my take is this "Nicole" is nothing but a SLUT. She sold out her so-called principles for financial gain. Linoko tayong lahat! With all the broohaha concerning VFA and Daniel Smith's "incarceration" at the embassy these past few weeks, did we hear anything from the "victim"? Even her lawyer knew little about her real intentions. Nobody knew that the leftist group's Poster Girl was already pulling a fast one on them. Magaling sila mag-rally, pero yung pag bantay kay Nicole...?

[testament11]

yes and no.

why yes, may drugs involved. pero still, baka the "victim" is also a user! so it will give me an answer of either yes and no. yes, kung forced ang pagpapagamit ng drugs. no kung si "victim' ay gumamit talaga ng nasa free will niya.

eh kaso, may statement siya na "parang hindi naman ako ni-rape eh...". eto lang yan, sarili mo hindi mo alam? bago pa man mangyari ang "cirme", eh dapat alam mo ang nangyayari sa yo. right after the 'crime", dapat alam mo din ang nangyayari sa yo

[niwde11]

i am not a saint buy whatever reason she has, good luck on the land of milk and honey. we hope she find her true happiness there and not coming back here on the frontpage again telling she was pressured.
i am sure tayong lahat na Filipino e ikahihiya ang pangyayari na ito. one for the books again. Atty E. Ursua was questioned on ANC whether she was angry, she said "No Comment". Just watch it and look at her face.

[shadow]

kayo naman, natupad na niya yun dream niya, puro Americans ang gusto niyang BF, gusto talaga niya makapunta ng US,

she is not what the women oriented group portrayed her to be, sumasama kaagad siya bagong kakilalah to party :party: tapos inom pa then flirting flirting... siguro gusto niya magkaroon sila ng relasyon ni Smith pero ayaw ni Smith one night stand lang ang tingin niya ayun napahiya yun bida natin kaya nagsisigaw ng rape...

[jeDi13]

iba talaga nagagawa ng pera sa mga taong walang values. oh well, let's see how far can she go with her P100K.

[shadow]

iba talaga nagagawa ng pera sa mga taong walang values. oh well, let's see how far can she go with her P100K.

P100l + US visa

[Monseratto]

What she did reinforces the notion of the world that filipinas are willing to do anything for a buck.

[number001]

I have never heard of that kind of ease in getting an immigrant visa (green card?) and on top of it, it was just issued locally (US Embassy in Manila) without going through any lengthy processes, requirements, etc.. usually involved in applying for this kind of visa.