Guilty!

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That was the one word that Filipinos were waiting for in the long awaited verdict of the Subic Rape Case. However, it would come short in my opinion, because out of the 4 individuals, three walked because of lack of evidence. Smith took the whole brunt of the case and was sentenced to 40 years in prison, but now the battle of custody will be waged, whether or not Smith will be held in Philippine or American custody.
Don’t forget that in a case like this, there is still an appeal that will no doubt be exercised.

I still think that there is lack of real logic regarding the three acquittals that were handed to Carpentier, Silkwood, and Duplantis. The court said “In so far as Duplantis,… He did nothing but sit inside the van and perhaps watch what Smith was doing”

Here’s where my one semester of Logic will come in handy.

Smith is guilty of rape. Duplantis sat inside the van. Duplantis watched what Smith was doing. But, Smith was guilty of rape.

So, Duplantis was watching a rape take place.

Now. Tell me again why he was acquitted, when clearly the court agrees that Duplantis watched the rape and did nothing but sit there taking no liberty of stopping a crime from taking place.

“Likewise accused Carpentier, Silkwood, and Duplantis cannot be considered as accomplices of accused Smith for they do not know beforehand the carnal knowledge of Smith. There was no showing that they cooperated with the plan of smith,” the court said.

They may not have cooperated, but they didn’t stop it from taking place either.

Despite the acquittals, Nicole was still very much pleased with the verdict, as she should be. But, make no mistake, the three who walked may not be guilty, but I’m not so sure that you can call them innocent either. I don’t know what to call them.

But for Nicole, I call her Courageous. Her resolve was unbound and for that, I think it has inspired our nation even more. Her strength was to be hailed, and in this landmark case revolving around U.S. servicemen and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Nicole stood her ground, held her own, and showed that justice would prevail.

The fight is still not over, but I don’t think we need to worry about the resolve of Nicole. In her anguish and turmoil, my heart goes out to her and wishes her a brighter future.

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