Rage

I have just read the news item about Nicole recanting her previous statements, and the so-called "sworn statement" she released only now, more than two years after the bitter battle for justice began.

Profanities race through my mind as I try to rationalize this sudden turn of events. For the statement, it seems, was tailor-fitted to strengthen the defense of accused Cpl. Daniel Smith. As I read through it (or at least the citations), I can't help but think how incriminating and contradictory it was to what Nicole has been stating ever since the case began. It would definitely remove Nicole's credibility, in the eyes of the many who would believe anything they hear or read in the news without any sort of critical analysis.

And the more suspicious part is that, it all happened after Barack Obama called the highly-contested President of this republic to commend her for her moves against terrorism and to say that the US will uphold the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) on their end.

How Nicole was manipulated and maneuvered to recant, we can only guess. We could not blame her for reaching this decision (if she was not coerced into it), for the case has gone on for too long and still, justice has not been served.

In the anti-VFA rally held earlier ended on a dramatic note, with Nicole terminating her contract with her legal counsel, and her mother saying that there is no justice in the Philippines.

Add two and two together, and what do we get?

This event only proves the extent to which the government would go to protect the interests of its closest ally, the US—even at the expense of its own citizens.

Such a sorry state of government is more than enough for us Filipinos to be enraged.

Let there be no more excuses. Nicole's case should be more than enough reason for us to call for the junking of the VFA.