Rape victim was 'too drunk when brought to van'

Manila: A witness said a Filipina rape victim was too drunk when brought by a US serviceman to his van in a former US Base in central Luzon in 2005.

The prosecution witness said he saw the complainant, identified as Nicole was "not in her right senses" while she was being carried by a US serviceman, after they left the Neptune Bar in Subic Bay Free Port Zone.

Evalyn Ursua, the 22-year old girl's lawyer said the first witness corroborated the victim's claim that she was raped by one of the US Marines inside a van after she went out with him.

It was the first time for Nicole to meet face to face the four US marines at the Makati Regional Trial Court.

She accused Staff Sergeant Chad Brian Carpentier, Lance Corporals Keith Silkwood, Dominic Duplantis, and Daniel Smith of raping her in Subic on November 1, 2005, a Holy Friday.

She also said that one of them, Smith, raped her in the van while his companions cheered him on. The four denied the charges, saying Smith had consensual sex with her.

However, the judge entered a plea of not guilty for them as they refused to answer the charges.

But another security guard is set to testify that he saw a naked Nicole after the US servicemen threw her out of the van.

Lawyers said this will bolster the rape case against the US servicemen which is punishable by 40 years of imprisonment.

The defence, meanwhile, complained that the prosecutors included the victim's mother as a witness. The judge scheduled a marathon hearing which will be held four times a week.

Various leftist groups have scheduled rallies. Leaders said they give support to the accuser, and pressure the accused to admit guilt.