Moments after the guilty verdict of Judge Benjamin Pozon against US Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith was read out in Makati Regional Trial Court yesterday, ABSCBN News' Ces Drilon was in an automobile interviewing the Subic Rape complainant, a 22-year old Filipina woman who had just been shown on television and her real name mentioned in the televised coverage.
At one point, Ces Drilon said that Nicole was 99% sure the verdict would be in her favor. I guess all is forgotten and forgiven about that business of her mother and she wanting to fire the entire Prosecution Team that apparently hadn't sold out or anything like that.
I recorded the audio portion and you can listen to an MP3 of "Nicole" being told by Korina Sanchez that she had just been outed on national television.
MP3: Nicole Interviewed By Korina Sanchez After Rape Verdict Promulgated
You can also listen to my audio recording of Judge Pozon's decision being read.
Subic Rape Case Decision Part 1
Subic Rape Case Decision Part 2
Subic Rape Case Decision Part 3
Subic Rape Case Decision Part 4
I published the real name of Nicole yesterday as part of my coverage of the decision being promulgated. There may be other opinions about this now, considering that Nicole indicates her preference that her privacy be respected.
Does the public have any right to know who "Nicole" really is, now that the country's largest nationwide TV network has publicly revealed her identity?
Has "Nicole" become a "public figure"?
Are the details of her life now fair game for a Media and Public that has insisted on its Right to Know everything there is to know, by hook or by crook?
What standards ought to apply?
Media Ethicist Rachel Khan (Khanterbury Tales) has some definite ideas worth looking at and thinking about. Saw her on TV after the promulgation.
But Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona grumbles that the glass is only One Fourth Full. He wasn't happy that three of the accused U.S. Marines were acquitted of the Subic rape charges and have already left the Philippines. Never mind that Judge Benjamin Pozon found no evidence to find those three to be principals, accomplices or accessories to the crime. A literal tug of war over Daniel Smith between US Embassy personnel and Philippine National Police ensued in the Court room right after the promulgation. He is now in the Makati City Jail although a Note Verbale from the US Embassy has reportedly asked that a return to the status quo before the decision be made and custody returned to it.
3 comments:
The rape itself bears little interest for me, as does the fate of Daniel Smith. How many criminals have I NOT cared anything about in America?
Naah, MB, you mistake my concern. It is more with the Lynch Mobs and what it says about us.
I'm actually glad of the verdict in the sense that it defangs the Left's theory that the US would force the Philippines into an unjust decision.
I think the Left is in fact disappointed in the verdict.
The real test is whether Filipinos can live with victory as well as they have gloried in defeat.
I get the impreeion you're not very happy with the verdict.( I read your comment to ricelander in an earlier post.)
Me too.
I'm actually glad of the verdict in the sense that it defangs the Left's theory that the US would force the Philippines into an unjust decision.
I thought it was an unjust decision for Daniel Smith. The Prosecution team under Raul Gonzalez deliberately screwed up Nicole's case. the cross exam on the accused was horribly botched. evidence were not properly presented. tapos medyo hostile pa si SiRaulo at yung prosecution team niya kay Nicole mismo... sigh...
If I were the judge, I would have no choice but to acquit the US servicemen because of the prosecution's incompetence and inability to prove daniel smith's guilt, even if nicole was probably raped.
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