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Manila: The Philippine government yesterday reacted to a US Marine who called a 22-year old Filipina rape victim a prostitute while testifying in court.
Staff Sgt Chad Carpentier's testimony was "not appropriate and was not expected of a gentleman", said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.
Carpentier, in defence of the accused, Corporal Daniel Smith, earlier said that the complainant, known only as Nicole, was a "professional prostitute" who was "taking advantage" of Smith's "vulnerability".
In a message sent to reporters, through lawyer Evelyn Ursua, Nicole, the accused said, "I'll bet, he [Carpentier] doesn't respect his wife. What if his wife or daughter were in my shoes [as a rape victim]? ... He is very rude to women and does not respect them."
The alleged rape, which occurred in Subic, a former US naval base, in central Luzon last year, has ignited anti-American sentiment in the Philippines.
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