Subic rape victim, family running out of money

The legal battle between the 22-year-old Filipina and the four US Marines whom she has accused of raping her is costing her and her family money.

All four accused US Marines — Lance Corporals Daniel Smith, Dominic Duplantis, Keith Silkwood, and Staff Sergeant Chad Carpentier — have been attending the trial proceedings since June 2.

Twelve days into the marathon hearings, "Nicole" now owes stenographers at the Makati City regional trial court (RTC) some P10,000.

Private prosecutor Evalyn Ursua said the legal funds "Nicole" has been receiving from supporters are not enough, and are fast running out.

Ursua said copies of stenographic notes alone, which provide prosecution lawyers with a transcript of each hearing, cost more or less P2,000 each trial day.

"It’s P10 per page," she said. "We have to buy it. Transcripts cost us P2,000 a day which translates to P8,000 a week."

Ursua said paying for copies of stenographic notes is just "the tip of the iceberg," since prosecuting the Subic rape case will require funding for other litigation costs.

"That’s plus transportation of witnesses and lawyers plus meals plus paper, photocopying, ink, mailing and investigation expenses," she noted.

Six different stenographers from other Makati courts record the proceedings at the Subic hearings, according to Judge Liza Marie Picardal-Tecson of Hagonoy, Bulacan metropolitan trial court, former clerk of court of Makati Judge Benjamin Pozon, who is hearing the rape case.

Tecson said at least two stenographers attend each hearing so that the second can fill in for the other so that each and every detail is recorded accurately.

The Rules of Court allow stenographers to charge for copies of stenographic notes as an added income, while a percentage goes to the Office of the Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court, she said. — Michael Punongbayan