‘Nicole’ asks DOJ for new lawyers

The 22-year-old Filipina who accused a 21-year-old US Marine of raping her asked the Department or Justice yesterday to replace all the prosecutors assigned to represent her in court.

Speaking for her daughter, the mother of the woman known only as "Nicole" told The STAR in a phone interview that the all-female prosecutors assigned to handle Nicole’s case "have failed to do research" on how to go about their cross-examination of the four accused Americans.

"Wala naman silang preparation eh," she said. "Bakit hindi man lang nila paghandaan. Tingnan mo na lang nung Lunes kung ano nangyari."

Nicole’s mother was referring to the cross-examination of Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, whom her daughter has accused of raping her inside a moving van in Subic Freeport on the night of Nov. 1, 2005.

Before the trial started yesterday afternoon, Nicole, along with her mother and supporters, walked out of the courtroom and flagged down a taxi along J.P. Rizal street in front of the old Makati City Hall, where the trial was being held.

Witnesses said Nicole was crying when she left the courtroom, and that her supporters hid her face so the media could not take pictures or videos of her.

When The STAR talked with Nicole’s mother, they were already at the justice department on Padre Faura street in Manila to file their request for the replacement of prosecutors.

"Nung Lunes pa ito, masama ang loob ko," Nicole’s mother said, pointing to the performance of State Prosecutor Nolibien Quiambao in her cross-examination of Smith.

Nicole’s mother accused Quiambao of being "too gentle" on Smith when she cross-examined him after the direct examination of defense lawyer Ricardo Diaz on Monday.

"Ilang gabi na umiiyak yung anak ko," she said.

Despite the absence of Nicole, the trial proceeded, with State Prosecutor Hazel Decena-Valdez conducting a fiery cross-examination. — Michael Punongbayan