Gang Rape by U.S. Marines in Philippines Spurs Protests

by Amee Chew
November 16, 2005

A wave of protest was unleashed in response to the gang rape of a 22-year-old Filipina student by six U.S. Marines stationed in Subic Bay, Olongapo City on November 1. Since then, nearly daily demonstrations have been staged outside the U.S. embassy and Department of Foreign Affairs, demanding justice for the rape victim, and an end to U.S. intervention in the Philippines.

"US soldiers, as protected by provisions under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) are seldom surrendered to Philippine authorities much less tried under Philippine law. They are totally untouchable under US jurisdiction, despite crimes they can commit against Filipinos on Philippine soil. This means they can get away with anything from murder to gang rape, and not have to answer to the Philippine government,” explains BAYAN USA spokesperson Berna Ellorin.

In the U.S., Fil-Am political group BAYAN USA demands the total and unconditional withdrawal of U.S. troops and military aid from the Philippines, as well as no immunity for the six rape suspects. Women's groups in the Philippines have been outspoken; the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women for the Asia-Pacific region helped mobilize protests and favors scrapping VFA. Protesters point out that the rape is only the most recent human rights violation in a pattern of sexual abuse commited by U.S. forces towards Filipinos.

The six U.S. servicemen were among 4,500 U.S. troops sent to the Philippines for joint exercises with Philippine forces, before being deployed to Japan.

Witnesses report the rape survivor being dragged from a bar into a van by the Marines, and later dumped unconscious by the side of a road. The rapes allegedly occured in the van while it was moving. The rape survivor described the other men goading her rape on before she passed out. The driver of the van later identified the six suspects as Keith Silkwood, Daniel Smith, Albert Lara, Dominic Duplantis, Corey Barris, and Chad Capent.

While a Philippine senator has called U.S. Marines "sex terrorists," on Monday the Philippine government said it was unable to ask the U.S. government to hand over the six suspects to Philippine custody. Instead, the government is arranging a bilateral agreement with the U.S. regarding custody of the suspects, before a warrant of arrest can be issued by a Filipino court.

The United States maintained large military bases in the Philippines for
nearly 100 years, which were closed in the early 1990s. But regular military contacts for training continued, and have increased particularly after 9/11 in the name of fighting terrorism in the region. BAYAN USA asserts that the current Arroyo administration, which plans to impose martial law, is conducting a reign of terror with U.S. support.

Responses to the gang rape by U.S. troops in Okinawa included a mix of disbelief and concern for the Marines' reputation. A Navy hospitalman urged servicemenbers not to turn their backs on the suspects.

“I don't think what is in the newspapers is how it happened,” said Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Galleguillos. “I don't think they raped her. They're still Marines, they're still ambassadors … and they understand that.”