Manila may drop rape charges against US marines

MANILA, Mar 20 (Reuters) The Philippine government today said it was considering dropping rape charges against three US marines in favour of a lesser charge but would pursue the case against a fourth marine.

Last year, Philippine prosecutors charged the four with raping a 22-year-old Filipino woman in early November but, following an appeal by defence lawyers, the government is reviewing the charges before the marines are formally arraigned.

''What I'm studying now is whether the culpability of all these people is the same,'' Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez told Reuters.

When asked about media reports that the Philippines will drop all charges against three of the four US servicemen, Gonzalez said ''I do not think so.'' ''I think it's the question of (the) particular nature of the participation,'' he said. ''(It's) not necessary that they will be acquitted.'' The four Marines, along with the alleged rape victim, were expected to appear in court on March 24 to hear the formal charges but Gonzalez said he did not know if the Justice department's review would be completed by then.

''I don't know whether the judge will proceed with the arraignment unless I would have submitted already my resolution.

''I'm trying to be ready, I'm trying my best. This is a very thick folder you do not give justice by just reading it ... you have to study ... there is an international relationship involved here.'' A person convicted of rape in the Philippines can be sentenced to death.

Despite a series of small demonstrations, the rape case has not inflamed any serious anti-American sentiment in the Philippines, a former US colony and Washington's closest security partner in Southeast Asia.

The marines, stationed in Okinawa, Japan, had just ended two weeks of military exercises with Philippine troops in October and were on rest-and-recreation leave when the alleged incident happened.

The four members of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit remain under the custody of the US embassy after Washington turned down a request by Manila to hand them over, ignoring an arrest warrant issued by a local court in January.

In a January 16 diplomatic note, the embassy invoked the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement, saying ''the US government shall continue to exercise custody until completion of all judicial proceedings''.

Opposition politicians and leftist activists have protested over Washington's refusal to hand over the Marines, describing it as a vote of no confidence in the country's justice system.

Reuters CS VP0905