Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco, who chairs the House foreign affairs committee, made this appeal yesterday to Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Zosimo Paredes, executive director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
Cuenco was apparently angered by the statement of Paredes that under the VFA, custody of the six American Marines accused of raping a Filipina inside the Subic Freeport last Nov. 1 rests with the American military and that the Philippine government cannot compel the Americans to keep the accused soldiers in the country.
Officials of the United States embassy in Manila have shared the interpretation of Paredes of the VFA.
"Mr. Paredes should stop sounding as if he were a defense lawyer for the accused GIs. The very least that Paredes could show at this time is equanimity, if he cannot seem to observe the elementary standards of fairness and objectivity. And let’s not sound like lapdogs, serfs or mendicants. As officials sworn to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, we must not shirk from our paramount duty to defend the national interest," Cuenco said.
He said US embassy officers have themselves acknowledged that truth in the case should be unraveled and that there would be no whitewash.
"It’s unfortunate and even disgusting to hear that some Filipinos are more overzealous in defense of the accused rather than standing up for the victim," he said. He added that if concerned officials continue to sound servile, "then we must be prepared to accept our fate that this beloved nation of ours is really now going to the dogs."
Cuenco also urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to wrap up its preliminary investigation of the case soon and to issue warrants for the arrest of the six accused US soldiers so they can be turned over to the Philippine government.
He said the 60-day period the DOJ has given itself to complete the investigation "is way too long, considering the strength and sufficiency of the evidence at hand."
He said if the justice department will bungle its job, it would be a tragedy not only for the victim but for the country as well.
He added that if that happens, then the government should initiate the revision of the VFA.