Whenever I think of Philippine's ralationship with foreign countries, there are several things that bother me. The Visiting Forces Agreement, fatherless children in Subic, The Subic rape case , and The most recent death of Jennifer Laude, all of these are the reminders that we should be cautious evertime we enter into an agreement or treaty with other countries.
Yes, there are benefits in such agreements, like protection from future disputes, enhancement of our resources , and so on. But all these benefits comes with threats.
The Philippine- U.S. Visiting Forces Agreement states that Philippine authorities exercise exclusive jurisdiction over United States Personnel with respect to offenses, including offenses relating to security of the Philippines, punishable under the laws of the Philippines. How come the justice is still not served in The Subic Rape Case ? Even in the case of the transgender who was killed by the 19 year old U.S. Marine?
Do remember that in The Subic Rape Case, the victim was a filipina. She was raped by Lance Corporal Daniel Smith. During the trial Smith was confined in the U.S. embassy, why not in Philippine jail? Then after, he was immediately released by the decision rendered by Filipino justices, stating that, " ..a careful and judicious perusal of the evidence on record does not convince the prudent mind about the moral certainty of the guilt of the accused, hence we must acquit." Is there any exemption? Is it because he is a U.S. Marine? Or is it the evidence that we, the Filipinos are slaves of Americans ?
And then now, the Jennifer Laude Case. Jennifer is a transgender who was killed by Private First Class Pemberton. Pemberton was in the Phillipines for military exercises. This is the second criminal case involving a U.S. Marine in the Philippines under the Visiting Forces Agreement. Are we going to let the decision in The Subic Rape Case happen again? I think this is the time that we need to abolish the VFA. How many criminal cases do we need to realize that this agreement comes with a threat? When will the justice be served ? Wake up fellow Filipinos, wake up!
[1] www.chanrobles.com/visitingforcesagreement1.htm#.VHfietZdaK0
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