US bars GIs testimony in Subic rape trial

The US Embassy in Manila barred American Navy investigators from testifying in the Subic rape trial, dealing a setback to efforts to speed up the proceedings, prosecutors said Wednesday. DZMM correspondent Ricky Velasco said the embassy invoked diplomatic immunity in barring US serviceman Ronald Beltz and three others from testifying. Beltz is the resident agent in Manila of the US Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Judge Benjamin Pozon questioned the Department of Foreign Affairs' failure in sending subpoenas to the four witnesses. An NCIS report earlier quoted the rape complainant telling a US serviceman that she had sex with one of the four accused. The report added that the complainant “never used the word rape" in describing the incident.

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