GI in rape: We’re not monsters, God was in the van

God was there.

Speaking publicly for the first time, Staff Sergeant Chad Carpentier, one of the four US Marines accused of raping a Filipina inside a van in Subic last year, said yesterday he and his co-accused were not the monsters they were portrayed to be.

In a television interview aired over GMA-7’s "24 Oras" last night, Carpentier questioned the victim’s version of what really took place inside the Starex van where the alleged rape took place, saying God was with them inside the van and, "He knows what really happened that night."

He said he had long wanted to speak out but has not had the opportunity.

According to Carpentier, he does not have any ill feelings against the private complainant, identified only as "Nicole."

"I’m not angry at her because I know she’s attempted to do the right thing in this case," he said.

He added though that Nicole "is a victim but not a victim of us, she’s a victim of some other people surrounding her."

Carpentier, who exercises authority over Lance Corporals Daniel Smith, Keith Silkwood, and Dominic Duplantis because of his higher rank, said he had wanted to speak a long time ago.

"We’re human, we’re not the monsters that we’re made out to be," he added, noting that the rest of the accused come to him for strength.

"Sometimes, they come to me for support and I have to pretend like am doing okay, but really, inside, I’m struggling, too," the young US Marine, a father of two, said.

He even described Smith, the one accused of having had sexual intercourse with the victim on the night of the alleged rape, as a "very quiet, reserved, young man, you know he’s just a kid."

Nicole will take the witness stand today to recount before the Makati City regional trial court what transpired on Nov. 1, 2005, the night of the alleged rape.

Private prosecutor Evalyn Ursua said the experience will be traumatic to "Nicole" as recalling the alleged rape is "like being raped again."

"Generally, it is extremely traumatic for rape victims to testify because she will be under scrutiny, her character gets attacked, as if a woman of ill-repute," she told The STAR in an interview.

Ursua said Nicole is being readied for her testimony today with the help of psychologists led by Dr. June Pagaduan-Lopez who will be in court to support her.

"She becomes the accused in a sense, even her family is dug up. She has to defend that to claim credibility and in that sense she gets raped again in the process," she said.

Ursua, who will handle the direct examination, said Nicole’s mother, stepsister and two brothers will also be in court to support her.

Nicole is "very afraid," but she is ready to face the court as well as the four accused, she added.

Nicole has been prepared for cross-examination where she is expected to be grilled on the details of her alleged rape as well as her character, Ursua said.

Meanwhile, the party-list group Gabriela announced that 1,000 protesters carrying placards and posters demanding justice will troop to the old Makati City Hall today, where the trial is being held. Gabriela, in an open letter to Nicole, tried to boost her courage by acknowledging that, "it is never easy for anyone to come out and tell the judgmental society that you were raped."

"Yet, it is more difficult to courageously struggle for justice when you are faced with US soldiers who are protected by both the US government and ours," read the letter.

"So for you, Kabaro, we extend our pledge to be with you in your quest for justice. Your struggle and your family’s is also the struggle of Filipino women who sympathize with you. You, Kabaro, bind women together."

Gabriela told Nicole how all women wish that violence and abuse directed toward women would stop, and that her courage to look for justice encourages other women victims of violence and abuse to seek retribution.

"And as your struggle progresses, we are further awed by your determination despite the defense’s dirty maneuvers," read the letter.

"And we can only feel anger towards the negligence of those who should be helping you in the first place yet have the gall to protect your rapists."

Nicole’s testimony is expected to be one of the highlights of the Subic rape case being heard by Judge Benjamin Pozon of Makati Regional Trial Court, branch 139.

Ursua said after Nicole’s testimony, they will present a few more witnesses, among them forensic pathologist Raquel del Rosario-Fortun, before the prosecution rests.

Fortun, who claims to be one of only two properly trained forensic pathologists in the country today, is being groomed as an expert witness though the court is yet to decide on whether to admit her.

On the other hand, Ursua said the defense’s expert witness Dr. Teresita Sanchez of the Makati Medical Center, the University of Sto. Tomas Hospital, and the Manila Doctors Hospital, is not qualified to be a witness.

"She’s not properly trained on forensics," she told The STAR.

"Insofar as qualifications is concerned, she is not qualified. The defense owes the court candor. They should admit that they also wanted Fortun. Now they are questioning her qualifications. It is the obligation of lawyers to be candid to the court."