MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos in Nagoya sought the help from Japanese friends on Saturday as they seek justice through other avenues for a 22-year-old Filipina woman whose rape charge against a US soldier was dismissed recently by US military court.
Migrante Nagoya issued the call as it condemned and rejected the decision handed by Army Judge Col. Donna Wright dismissing the case against Army Specialist Ronald Hopstock, who was accused of raping “Hazel," for lack of sufficient evidence.
"We join the people of Okinawa in condemning this grave injustice to Hazel and the mockery of the justice system. We also deplore the criminal neglect of the Arroyo government for turning its back on Hazel and for not lifting its finger to ensure that justice is served to the victim," the group said in a statement.
"We ask Judge Wright: How much evidence do you need? And how many women-victims do you want to come forward to prove Hopstock’s guilt?" the group said.
“Hazel, not her real name, was only 21 years old when the rape happened on February 18, 2008. She came to Okinawa to work as an entertainer because she needed to save money to support a twin sister who then needed medical attention caused by a prior accident. Hazel is not a prostitute, nor is she a bad woman as what the accused and his likes have portrayed her in media," Migrante Nagoya said.
Hopstock left the court Tuesday, February 24, virtually a free man although he was adjudged guilty on three other unrelated charges.
In seeking to pursue through other avenues, Migrante-Nagoya said: “This is not the way justice should be served. However, what can Hazel and the rest of her supporters in Okinawa and elsewhere expect from a military court whose players all carry the same badge?"
The group said it believed that what happened is not just an injustice, but also an attack on the justice system itself.
“A thick, dark cloud hovers around Kadena Airbase where the biggest mockery of the much-vaunted American justice system was happening on Tuesday.
“Migrante-Nagoya bleeds for Hazel and the other victims of rape and abuse by US military soldiers in Okinawa who were all denied justice today. This sad event only reinforces our distrust of the US military court whose track record of prosecuting its own men has been far worse than dismal," it added.
The group has demanded justice to Hazel and the other victims of rape and sexual abuse by US soldiers in Okinawa and elsewhere. "We cannot lay our backs and allow many more incidents like these to continue with impunity," the group said. - D’Jay Lazaro, GMANews.TV