PRESIDENT ARROYO AND FOREIGN SECRETARY ROMULO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 005317 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, AND L/EAP USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP FOR ALLEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2015 TAGS: PREL MARR ASEC PHUM PGOV PINS KCRM RP SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ARROYO AND FOREIGN SECRETARY ROMULO COMMENT ON SUBIC RAPE ALLEGATIONS REF: A. MANILA 5261 ¶B. MANILA 5231 ¶C. MANILA 5138 Classified By: (U) Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Paul W. Jones for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. President Arroyo expressed appreciation to visiting EAP DAS Eric John and Charge Jones for USG cooperation in the investigation of six US Marines allegedly involved in the November 1 alleged rape of a Filipina in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA),but warned of a political firestorm if the Marines left the country. Charge said that to ensure continued close cooperation, both US and Filipino officials should avoid surprises, maintain control over comments to the press, and postpone any discussion of changes to custody or jurisdiction to allow the investigation to take its course. All six Marines have hired local counsel and are preparing counter-affidavits for submission to the Olongapo City Prosecutor's Office on November 18. Charge received assurances from Acting Foreign Secretary Seguis and Visiting Forces Agreement Commission (VFACOM) Executive Director Paredes that Philippine authorities will immediately provide Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agents access to key witnesses in the case. As the media debates whether or not the GRP should request custody of the accused Marines, the Filipino driver involved in the incident has publicly recanted his testimony alleging the Marines "gang raped" the victim. We can expected continued emotional coverage of and reaction to developments in this case. We will continue to work hard to ensure full and fair investigations, including by NCIS, to advance our shared interest in seeing justice prevail. END SUMMARY. ARROYO WELCOMES US COOPERATION, BUT STRESSES MARINES SHOULD NOT LEAVE THE COUNTRY -------------- ¶2. (C) During a November 11 meeting with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (septels),DAS John assured her that the USG viewed with great seriousness the alleged rape case involving six US Marines (reftels). Arroyo highlighted the great domestic interest in the case. While expressing appreciation for US cooperation, she emphasized that Filipinos wanted assurances that the suspects would not leave the country. Charge assured President Arroyo and Foreign Secretary Romulo of continued US cooperation, noting that the United States had kept the Marines in country to be available to Filipino investigators. He said that to ensure continued close cooperation, both US and Filipino officials should avoid surprises, maintain control over comments to the press, and postpone any discussion of changes to custody or jurisdiction to allow the investigation to take its course. ¶3. (C) In an earlier meeting the same day at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA),Foreign Secretary Romulo praised the Embassy's handling of the incident thus far, noting the Charge's outreach to the Senate and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairmen, as well as SBMA officials. Charge Jones emphasized the USG's commitment to following both the letter and the spirit of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the necessity for continued close coordination between the two governments. He stressed the importance of investigating the charges, including pursuing the NCIS investigation, and not dwelling on questions of custody and jurisdiction. DAS John noted that the Embassy would serve as the USG point of contact dealing with the case. The Charge expressed appreciation for the DFA's role thus far as the official GRP spokesman on the case and urged Romulo to ensure that the DFA continued to be the sole voice of the GRP on this matter. Romulo pledged continued close coordination with the Embassy, noting the Philippine Department of Justice (DoJ) would determine what legal steps the GRP had to pursue. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶4. (SBU) All six Marines have now hired local counsel, who are preparing counter-affidavits for submission to the Olongapo City Prosecutor's Office on November 18. They remain in US custody in Manila under JUSMAG supervision. We have received no/no request from Philippine authorities for custody. FORMAL REQUEST FOR COOPERATION IN THE NCIS INVESTIGATION -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Charge received assurances from Acting Foreign Secretary Seguis and Visiting Forces Agreement Commission SIPDIS (VFACOM) Executive Director Paredes that Philippine authorities will immediately provide Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agents access to key witnesses in the case. Paredes said he would personally arrange for NCIS investigators to interview the driver of the van. Embassy sent a diplomatic note to the DFA on November 14, formally requesting such access under Article V, paragraph 7, of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). NCIS separately wrote to the Philippine DOJ and the Olongapo City Prosecutor's Office reiterating its need to interview the key witnesses and other potential sources of information related to the case. MEDIA REACTION -------------- ¶6. (U) The November 11 editorial of the generally pro-Opposition "Philippine Daily Inquirer" criticized VFACOM Executive Director Paredes for his earlier comments that the VFA did not specifically require the accused Marines to remain in the country, saying he seemed to be siding with the Americans rather than defending the interests of Philippine citizens. The editorial argued that, if the VFA was silent as to whether US servicemen accused of crimes should be kept in Philippines, the GRP should nonetheless ensure that the accused remained in the country until the conclusion of the investigation and trial. The issue has generated numerous editorials and columns in the Philippine press. Philippine Star publisher Max Soliven echoed the argument, saying it was not enough to make the accused Marines available during the preliminary investigation; they had to remain within the country so that they could be surrendered to the justice system once they were formally charged. Constitutional expert and law professor Fr. Joaquin Bernas, on the other hand, noted in his column that Article V, paragraph 6, of the VFA does not oblige the USG to keep the accused Marines within Philippine territory. ¶7. (SBU) Vice President Noli De Castro interviewed the driver of the vehicle, Timoteo "Jun" Soriano y Laroga, during his popular AM radio show broadcast on November 12. During the interview, Soriano claimed he had been coerced by SBMA officials into making his initial testimony accusing the Marines of "gang rape," and claiming that NCIS officials witnessed SBMA officials hitting him. (Note: NCIS officials did not witness such abuses or mistreatment. End note.) ¶8. (U) In DAS John's and Charge Jones' press conference with national media the evening of November 11, John noted that the Embassy would serve as the conduit and speak for the USG on the Subic case, and referred questions about the issue to the Charge. Charge Jones reiterated the USG's goal is "to allow the investigation to proceed, to establish the facts, and to make sure that justice is served." He noted that under both the Philippine and US justice systems, the accused are innocent until proven guilty, and highlighted the benefits of joint exercises to the armed forces of both countries and the people of the Philippines. ¶9. (C) Comment: The Subic case has, predictably, touched a raw nerve in the Philippine psyche. We can expect continued heightened media interest throughout the investigation and possible trial -- interest that will help shape the reaction of Philippine officials and politicians. Thus far, however, the DFA and VFA Commission have acted responsibly, despite the turmoil. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm Jones