Nicole: My prayers were answered

After the verdict was read yesterday, the woman known as Nicole thanked God for hearing her prayers, saying that God heard her plea for justice.

"Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Diyos na dininig niya ang dasal ko. Thank you Lord. Nagpapasalamat din po ako pati kay Judge Pozon. Judge Pozon ang bait ninyo," Nicole said in an interview aired by GMA Channel 7.

She said that in her lonely search for truth and justice, she called to God and He did not fail her.

"Ang bait po talaga ng Diyos sa akin (God is really good to me)," she said.

Nicole, who wore a white hat to conceal her identity, held a rosary as the verdict was read.

Believing that her struggle to fight for justice finally paid off, Nicole also thanked Makati City Regional Trial Court Judge Benjamin Pozon yesterday for sending to jail one of four US Marines charged with raping her.

"Masaya naman ako kahit na-acquit yung tatlo (I’m happy even if the other three were acquitted)," she told The STAR in an interview hours after Lance Corporal Daniel Smith was brought to the Makati City Jail.

In another interview with ANC, Nicole said she is happy with Pozon’s decision even though the three other Marines were acquitted.

"Kakayanin ko lahat ano pang appeal nila," she told ANC anchor Korina Sanchez when asked if she will continue the legal battle at the Court of Appeals.

Nicole, 23, said she wanted Staff Sergeant Chad Carpentier to be convicted, "but it did not happen." Carpentier and Lance Corporals Dominic Duplantis and Keith Silkwood were acquitted.

Nicole said she does not really know what she will do next nor what is in store for her since the case will still be brought before the Court of Appeals.

In interviews several days before Pozon issued a verdict convicting Smith of rape, Nicole said she plans to lead a new life abroad.

Nicole, though contented with Pozon’s decision, said the prosecution could have done better if only they had the testimony of the driver of the Hyundai Starex van where the rape took place on the night of Nov. 1 last year.

"Wala siyang konsensiya. Sana guluhin siya ng konsensiya niya (He has no conscience. I hope his conscience bothers him)," she said.

Nicole believes that if driver Timoteo Soriano Jr. testified in court, the three other accused would have been convicted as well.

Soriano refused to testify in court, whether for the prosecution or the defense, and invoked his right against self-incrimination.

His lawyer, Raulito Paras, argued that his client cannot be forced to testify in a case where he is also "technically an accused."

Nicole also expressed concern over the consequences of having her real name broadcast live on national television because the court allowed cameras inside the courtroom.

She said she will ask her private lawyer, Evalyn Ursua, if anything can be done about it at all even though the damage has been done.

"We cannot do anything really. There was an oversight in the reading of the decision because the full name of the private complainant was read while the promulgation was being covered live," Ursua said in a separate interview.

She appealed to members of media to "comply with law protecting Nicole. Please edit the footage and call the private complainant Nicole."

Meanwhile, Smith arrived at the Makati City Jail (MCJ) late yesterday afternoon where he will serve his 40-year sentence unless the US and Philippine governments agree on holding him elsewhere, which is allowed under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

"We turned him over to the MCJ where he was subjected to another medical examination. Inaayos pa mga papel niya and other belongings doon (His documents and other belongings are still being prepared)," Makati city police chief Superintendent Gilbert Cruz said.

He added that Smith’s records will be processed for a file folder before he will be given a prisoner number and a permanent cell.

Cruz, who personally supervised security measures inside and around the old Makati City Hall building during yesterday’s promulgation of judgment, took custody of the 21-year-old US Marine after the verdict was issued.

US Embassy escorts who surrounded Smith after the decision was read initially refused to surrender custody of the American soldier to the local police, resulting in a brief scuffle. — Michael Punongbayan