Okay. So, Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith of St. Louis, Missouri, is a convicted rapist. But, who among us here feel?

Question

...but, who among us here feel our hearts being torn and wrung as we see his photographs on front pages of Philippine newspapers with that bewildered, sad and woeful look in his face? On Monday, the 4th of December, 21-year old Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith was found guilty of the crime of rape and was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment by a Filipino judge in a Manila Court of Justice in the Philippines. His accuser, Nicole (not her real name), a 23-year old Filipino woman, said to reporters that she was happy to see Smith go to jail but also said that if she had her way, she would have wanted him to face the death penalty. This case became a news sensation, especially in the Philippines, from the moment Nicole reported to the police that she had been raped by a U.S. Marine on that fateful day of November 01, 2005.

Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith of the U.S. Marines will forever curse this date. One cannot help but imagine the pain his family in the U.S. is feeling today and tomorrow. So sad

Answer 1

Daniel Smith deserve a good treatment in Makati City Jail. It is better for him to be in US Embassy custody. Think!!! Thousands of filipinos going back home whining about how hot the weather is and they don't like it and want to get back to US bad. Smith was american born am sure he don't like our food.Maybe a little sympathy for him? Filipinos in jail in US are a lot better than in the prison jail in PI. Plus, i am really in doubt about the attitude of this Nicole...She can not even give a straight answer about What lesson can she give about her situation.She simply says ah yah don't get drunk but know who are with and don't trust..For me she is so fishy!!!!! If she wanted to be respected she should not even be there in that bar in the middle of the night...she should have a chaperone with her anywhere she goes.She should not be drunk, and i don't think being drunk made her not think and not feel anything? pam pam...if she is protecting her dignity, protect her virginity, then is she? I heard that she wants to go abroad..Where in US?..I don't buy her b........ pak pak..american men are liberated...once you go out with them they mean business or s ...but if u show them u are not ,,,they will respect you..but SHE didnt show it coz she's just so drunk that she couldn't even walk? and cry rape??..how's that..she drunk too much and u think this is a good example of a filipina woman?? p-k p-k the victim here is daniel..he is just an innocent kid ..not the more older experienced Nicole..cause i really don't believe her...Daniel I want you back HOME.....

Answer 2

I feel so sorry for Daniel Smith because he the verdict of the judge is so unfair. You can even ask the people working at Makati Regional Trial Court office and they told like the verdict and they don't like Nicole because they think she is lying and she is mean and arrogant to people, in tagalog so maarte. Most of the Filipino cried after the verdict was handed down not because of Nicole but because of Daniel. I went to the Makati City Jail to bring him some food and I can honestly say that he was not given any special treatment, what is so special to be put in jail without doing anything wrong. I was interviewed by Channel 7 with regards to the matter and the reporter ask me if I believe Nicole and my answer is I dont believe her and never will I believe her. Right now I am planning to do a fund drive to help Daniel Smith's family to come to the Philippines so they can spend time with him.
To Gabriela and Liza Masa: You're all hypocrite. You don't like the Americans but if given the chance to go, you will be on a plane in a heartbeat.

To Nicole: The truth will come out and you will be on the losing end. You're just trying to get attention and you are in Subic and in the club because you want an American guy.


To Judge Pozon: The verdict that you handed down on Danny is wrong and with what you did, that is the end of your career because nobody will respect you anymore esp. with what you are doing right now delaying the transfer of Danny back to the US custody.

To the people who believe on Danny: Let us pray for him and let us help him. Light a candle for him on Monday at 2pm Manila time.


To Lance Corporal Daniel Smith: I believe in you and nobody can take that away from me. God knows the truth. You will always be a United States Marine and a Gentleman.

Answer 3

It appears that I may be the 20th person to answer this question. I have read all of the other 19 answers.

First of all, Danny Boy put himself in a risky position. Any one who has been in the Military knows that men go crazy at times..Marines, Navy...all branches. The Military is just a reflection of the general society. Men have been raping women since Adam and Eve. Rape is an act of violence.

From the testimony at the trial, the woman was drunk....So, you have a violent intimacy with a drunk woman?

This trial was no different than the trial of the La cross players.
No different than the Dans Pool room gang rape, a few years ago.

When a woman says No or is incapable of saying No...she means No.

What is the lesson here, my Friends? Simple lesson...be very certain that the act is consensual....Be very sure;)

Answer 4

Oh, yes! This story is so sad. But if he really committed the crime
these things is more sadder to the victim herself. Her family will suffer the consequences ´till she marry a man who can accept her.. . I think this will always remind not only Cpl. Daniel Smith but i hope all of the soldiers in the U.S. Marine Corps that if they need to be respected, they must know how to give respect to the others. Sex is fun, but are you sure you're dealing it with the correct partner?
Maybe Nicole is a decent woman, not because she's drunk, and that you can abuse her. You committed a crime then you'll pay for it. Asians are simple people, they're always smiling, but don't try to humiliate them, because deep inside their smiles..they can turn back on you and will humiliate you 'till you can never smile again. Remember the Vietnam War? Who Won??

Answer 5

i believe the decision made by the court are not fair cos i think daniel smith is innocent it may sound weird because im also a filipino but i doubt about nicole pesonality her freinds and family may say she is not that kind of lady who will drank and have sex with a man the she doesnt even know but everybody can change their personality when they want a wild trip in life .
and beside who will be a decent lady will get drunk and dance with a man who is such a hotblooded person only.she didnt know how to carry herself then she go to a place like that what a shame to her.
i tulybelieve smith is innocent may the court see the real score
becos sometimes some people tend to make issue
yes i think she ust want a issue

Answer 6

What was said to have happen is that she spent the evening getting drunk with the Marines riding in a van. No self respecting Filipina would do that, a hooker damn sure would. At the end of the night she said she was dumped out of the van passed out with he pants around her ankles. My take on that after living for many years in Subic Bay is that she literally didn't get paid for her services. I'd say this is more of a case of getting even by crying rape. Unless you have lived in the Phillipines and have seen it with your own eyes you could never imagine what it's truly like. There are prostitutes by the score in every bar. Too many times in the Philippines emotions overcome logic. That was pretty obvious with all of those women protesting in front of the US Embassy long before the trial started. They were inflamed by the accusation alone and didn't take a second to think maybe this guy was only guilty of slipping out on his tab. They turned a Bar Girl Hooker into a poster child representing the rape of the entire nation by the evil US forces. Since the New Peoples Army (NPA) are fairly prevalent in Zambales I'd be willing to bet that the Communist Party of the Philippines has a hand somewhere fanning the fire in this case .

Answer 7

Think again, my friend. RAPIST.

But it does get pretty sad. That person has to be in jail for 40 years. plus, when this incident was on front pages, I think it was a lil exaggerated. I think. But like I said, RAPIST. no offense.

Do the crime, pay the time. I feel sorry for the girl, too. The girl, I believe, was dumped somewhere after the raping.

Answer 8

I feel sad for both the victim and daniel smith. In my opinion, i think it was a consensual sex that went wrong. i think nicole felt utter humiliation when the marines just dropped her off and left her on the pavement dead drunk as they were rushing to get back to their ship, it was pretty stupid indeed. but i still feel the sentence was too much for a boy who has a full life ahead of him. Nicole surely gave the marines the "impression" that she was up for it, I mean she got drunk with them, and later rode with them in the van. I just don't get how that happened, i mean she met the 4 of them for the first time and got drunk with them and went to as far as going with them for a ride? I wish the driver had given statements that will corroborate Nicole's.

Oh well, this is the consequence of stupid acts, I just hope the U.S. will just take custody, because we've got to admit our prison condition is just one of the worsts. Daniel Smith might just lose his sanity after a month of staying in Philippine prison. Or better yet get a good lawyer to appeal your case. If the truth is indeed in your side, it will set you free.

As for Nicole, find it in your heart to forgive. You've won your case. I just hope the next time you'll think twice about getting drunk esp. when you're around men you only knew for a few hours.

Answer 9

I feel bad for smith. alot of girls from that country will throw themselvs at american men because they want out of that country.. Nicole is one of those.. Smith shouldnt have to serve any time in that shithole. We sent him over there, if the decision is no reversed then he should serve his time in a military prison not in the phillippines.. Nicole is nothing less than a prostitute, whore that cant controll herself at the bars.. I dont think smith did this at all.

Answer 10

Death sentence?!!! As a high school friend of Dan, there is no way he could have ever, ever, ever done what Nicole is accusing him of. Dan is a great guy, and has the best heart in the world. Any man that is willing to leave his friends and family to fight for our country does not deserve the negative treatment he is recieving. Dan, I love you and am praying for you.