NEWSFLASH

U.S. SAILORS WANT TO SETTLE W/MAULED CEBU CABBIE

Cebu City, March 15, 2000 Three American sailors are now seeking an amicable settlement with a Filipino taxi driver they mauled in Cebu City over cab fare disagreement.

US embassy press attache told the Manila Standard that US Navy lawyers have been meeting with the lawyer of victim Marcelo Batestil to forge and amicable settlement.

However, Skipper said it is all up to the taxi driver whether to accept an offer for settlement or not.

“Maybe it would be in the interest of everyone if this matter is resolved in an amicable manner,” he added.

The three sailors were arraigned yesterday at the Municipal Trial Court of Cebu City.

The case is being closely watched. Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said the case would test whether the United States would comply with the Visiting Forces Agreement, which states that American troops who commit crimes while off duty are subject of Philippine legal jurisdiction.

“This is going to be a very important case on the issue of jurisdiction,” Mercado said. “Making rounds of the bars, by any stretch of the imagination, is not included in the duties of a soldier.”

The three were part of the 500-man crew of the USS Blue Ridge that arrived in Cebu last Sunday for a 4-day visit to the Philippines.

Elmer Cato, spokesman of a presidential commission overseeing US military visits to the Philippines, said officials of the USS Blue Ridge, the flagship of the Seventh Fleet, “apologized profusely” for the incident and promised to make the sailors available tot he Philippines when needed.

Cato added that the US authorities have submitted the three servicemen to Philippine jurisdiction.

“The US acknowledged that the three were off duty and the offense falls under Philippine jurisdiction.

The Cebu port call by the USS Blue Ridge followed a month-long joint military exercise involving thousands of Filipino and American Troops.