Women's Month & Nicole's Recantation

It's just too unfortunate that two incidents involving the abuse and violation of some women's honor and integrity happened this month, which, incidentally, is Women's Month.

One, who reported that she was raped by an American serviceman, recanted and went abroad. Many people went terribly incensed by what she did. It's non-sensical they say and obviously dilutes the hard-fought struggles by the Philippine women's movement against abuses such as these.

Her recantation, if you look at it, is her right. GABRIELA said in the statement that instead of militating against the recantation, we must look at it on the point of view of the victim. They must be a reason for such an action. Maybe she was coerced. Maybe she was forced to do it. Whatever the reason behind such an action, one thing is certain---her recantation will obviously enrich the literature of defense attorneys. It will embolden some to parrot the legal tactic employed reportedly by Smith's defense counsel.

A hard and closer scrutiny however, would reveal to us that women's struggle in the Philippines will remain strong. And stronger, it will be. Nicole manifested the real situation of women. She just validated the situation happening here---that women victims are still helpless. That the system remains resistant to the pleas for the respect of women's rights.

The mark of a liberal democratic society is respect for individual rights. Our colleagues in the women's liberation movement is getting some headway but I think we still need more years for us to fully mature as a society respectful of each and every one's rights.

DILG Role in Nicole Recantation

What's the role played by DILG Undersecretary Marius Corpus in securing a compromised agreement between the parties of Suzette (Nicole) Nicolas, the alleged Subic rape victim, and convicted rapist Lance Corporal Daniel Smith?

Remember that last year, Corpus was sent to the US embassy to look after Smith. There were reports last year of an attempt by the US government to send Smith home.

Was Corpus visit to the US embassy one of many meetings that led to the eventual recantation of Nicole? Are those visits official negotiations between the US and Philippine governments in relation to the eventual reversal of the conviction of Smith?

In an interview late last year, Corpus was heard over ABS-CBN 2 telling us that there are indications that "this issue would be resolved soon." Was that a slip of the tongue?

If Corpus had a hand in the negotiations that led to Nicole's trip abroad last January, then, this provides introvertible proof that there was a government-to-government involvement in Nicole's case. And for what?

To secure the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).