Cabbie's counsel courts militants

CEBU - Now the lawyer of taxi driver Marcelo Batestil who was mauled by three American servicemen from the USS Blue Ridge is seeking help from militant groups to pressure the government not to yield to a US request to acquire jurisdiction over the case.

Laywer Gerardo Carillo met with officials of some militant groups and was promised support in the form of protest rallies this week.

The United States has given the Philippines until April 4 to file its opposition to the move.

Carillo said if the Philippines fails to submit its opposition, this would be considered a waiver to try the case here.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President are expected to respond to the US government request.

"I have no choice but to tap the militant groups to pressure the Philippine government. As far as I am concerned, I vehemently oppose the move that a US court will take over jurisdiction of the case which is primarily the jurisdiction of the Philippine court," Carillo said.

Vicente Balbuena, spokesman of the Kilusan Para sa Pambansang Demokrasya, said the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is silent on what the Philippine option is in the event of an American insistence to try the three US sailors in an American court.

Balbuena said there are actually no mechanisms on what to do if the Americans would insist on taking over judicial jurisdiction over the cases of estafa and physical injuries filed against the three servicemen.

Shannon Towers, Johnny Lowery Jr. and Michael Keyes are facing charges of slight physical injuries and estafa before the Municipal Trial Court here.

The US servicemen allegedly mauled taxi driver Batestil after they refused to pay the P900 fare he demanded for a tour of city nightspots without using his taximeter.

Carillo was expected to file a criminal complaint for malicious mischief yesterday. The taxi driven by Batestil was also damaged by the American sailors.