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Manila: A group of militant women "convicted" four American servicemen of raping a 23-year-old Filipina in a former US base in central Luzon last year, a TV report said.
Gabriela, a women's group, and other militant organisations held rallies in front of the US Embassy along Manila's Roxas Boulevard and at the former US Subic Naval Base in Olongapo, Zambales in central Luzon three days ahead of a Makati lower court's expected verdict on the rape case that was filed by the victim who is known only as Nicole.
"The prosecution presented strong evidence in favour of Nicole," said Emy de Jesus, secretary-general of Gabriela, adding, "We expect a guilty verdict against the accused."
During a mock trial, she and her companions, dressed in white long gowns and violet sashes, displayed pieces of papers that were emblazoned with "guilty" as a verdict for the four US Marines.
"If the American servicemen are freed, we will continue holding rallies in front of the US Embassy and at Subic where the rape case happened," warned de Jesus.
She hinted that the case might be "watered down" by the lower court in favour of the American soldiers "because the state has shown support for them", said de Jesus.
Gabriela and other groups said they have elevated the issue by campaigning against the US-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which was ratified by the Philippine Congress in 1998.
It served as a guideline and allowed the resumption of large-scale joint war-games between the two countries, following the abolition of the US-Philippine Military Bases Agreement (MBA) by the Senate in 1991.
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