Judge’s inhibition sets back Subic rape case

The inhibition of Olongapo City Judge Renato Dilag from the rape case filed against four US Marines on Thursday could lead a delay in trial. A day before the arraignment of four US servicemen, the counsel of the alleged rape victim requested Dilag to inhibit himself. The prosecution said they found out that Dilag's son, Raymond Anthony Dilag, worked for the Rodrigo Berenguer Guno Law Offices, which is defending Chad Brian Carpentier, one of the four accused. Dilag said his son is no longer connected with the law firm since 2004. “To dispel any doubts regarding my impartiality and to preserve the dignity of the court, I inhibit myself (from the trial)," Dilag said. Dilag has a pending case of grave misconduct before the Supreme Court. The rape case would be raffled on Friday between Judge Reynaldo Kadiwa and Executive Judge Avelino Lazon. Kadiwa reportedly also has a sibling who works for the law firm defending one of the four accused. Besides Carpentier, corporals Lance Daniel Smith, Keith Silkwood, and Dominic Duplantis were accused of raping a 22-year old Filipino woman inside a van at Subic Freeport in Zambales. –GMANews.TV