Nicole wants to start new life abroad

Nicole, the 23-year-old victim in the Subic rape case, wants to get away from the media and migrate to another country where she can work and regain a normal life.

"It’s my wish to go abroad to work and start a new life," Nicole said yesterday during a press briefing at the Tree House restaurant in Quezon City.

Sporting dark sunglasses and wearing a long-sleeved pink shirt and faded denim jeans, Nicole said that with the publicity generated by her case in the country, she could not get away from the media that will continue to hound her.

Nicole said she prefers to go to Italy where one of her sisters is working.

"For the whole year I was being talked about and what I do not want is to be identified," said Nicole, a day after Makati City Regional Trial Court Judge Benjamin Pozon convicted Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith of the US Marines for raping the Filipina.

Smith is now detained at the Makati City Jail, pending the US Embassy’s motion to take custody of the detainee before conviction is finalized.

Pozon acquitted Smith’s co-accused Staff Sgt. Chad Carpentier, Lance Cpl. Keith Silkwood and Lance Cpl. Dominic Duplantis of complicity. The three soldiers were immediately flown back last Monday to their military unit in Okinawa, Japan where their commander will continue the US military’s own investigation of the case.

She also expressed dismay over the acquittal of the three servicemen whom she claimed were accomplices in the crime.

Nicole had earlier expressed concern to her private lawyer Evalyn Ursua over the publication of her photographs and possible exposure on television.

Ursua had appealed to newsmen not to mention Nicole’s real name nor publish her photographs to protect her real identity.

She does not want to become a celebrity and would prefer that her story be forgotten after Smith’s conviction is upheld by the Supreme Court.

"I did not even keep a diary so as not to recall my ordeal. I just want a normal life," she added.

Nicole said that before she leaves for abroad, she wants to see Smith start serving 40 years in prison as punishment for "destroying my life."

"Sinira niya ang buhay ko, dapat magdusa siya," she said.

She admitted that she has not yet fully recovered from the ordeal she suffered during the trial, but with full support of her family and lawyers she is now stronger and prepared to face new challenges in the future.

Nicole also said her ordeal that started when she was raped inside a van on Nov. 1, 2005 at the former US naval base in Subic, had taught her the harsh realities of life that you cannot trust strangers and that you should choose the people you go along with.

When asked if she wants to go to the United States, she frowned saying that the US is not the only country in the world. "But wish ko lang yan," she said with a smile.

After coming out in public again to thank the people who supported her, Nicole wants to take a break and rest awhile to re-assess her legal battle against the convicted rapist.

She said mixed emotion of joy and sadness overwhelmed her because she finally got justice and the case is expected to be elevated to the higher courts where she could no longer participate in the proceedings.

Nicole wants to spend her Christmas with her family and her mother Susan, who was also present during the press briefing, expressed the same concern that Smith’s conviction will undergo a review process in the higher courts.

"We can only pray and leave everything to God, our prayers were already answered and we still keep praying until we get justice," the mother said.

Nicole said she will personally monitor the detention of the convicted rapist to insure that there will be no special treatment accorded to him at the Makati City Jail while the case is under review at the Court of Appeals.

The US Embassy, however, had invoked the provisions of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to regain custody of Smith while his appeal is pending in the appellate court.

"I will personally monitor the case if possible I will visit (the jail) to see to it that he is accorded the treatment of an ordinary prisoner," she added.

She will ask her lawyer to ensure that Smith will not get the luxury he enjoyed at home.

She said Smith tried to bring in a laptop computer inside the detention cell, an initial move to provide him with the necessities not enjoyed by other prisoners.

"Ngayon, laptop susunod telepono, then airconditioner so parang nasa bahay lang siya," she said.

This developed as the militant Bayong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) reiterated its call for the scrapping of the VFA, and the Philippines should take custody of the Smith.

Bayan in a statement hailed the verdict on the Subic rape case and reiterated its demand to scrap the VFA.

The VFA has allowed thousands of US troops to freely enter the country, stay indefinitely and leave whenever they want, setting the conditions for human rights abuses and crimes against the Filipino people.

"We commend Judge Pozon for taking the side of justice, Nicole, and the Filipino people. At the same time, the acquittal of the three other accused has a lot to do with the lopsidedness of the VFA and how the Arroyo administration made a mess out of the Subic rape case," Dr. Carol Araullo, Bayan chairperson said.