Filipina seafarer raped, seeks justice in Japan

ILOILO CITY — A Filipina seafarer allegedly raped while onboard a foreign cruise ship earlier this year is seeking justice in Tokyo, Japan by filing $200,000 in compensatory damage.

Atty. Pedro Linsangan of the Free Legal Assistance for Seafarers said that the 23-year-old who hails from Passi City, Iloilo province has filed a civil suit after Filipino law enforcement agencies failed in helping her file criminal charges as the alleged rape was committed on high seas.

Along with Tokyo-based lawyers Ian Lawson Davis and Hiroyuki Kanezaki, Linsangan filed the $200,000 civil suit against NYK Cruises Company Limited, owner of cruise ship MS Asuka II, on behalf of the victim in Tokyo last week.

Juliet (not her real name) was allegedly raped last February 8, 2015 while onboard MS Asuka II, which was sailing from Saipan to Australia.

In her complaint-affidavit, Juliet said Filipino engine crew members Harold Toco, Raffy Cordova, Baltazar Tomarong, and Angelito Mancilang kept on inviting her for a drinking spree during her offduty hours.

Juliet agreed to accept the invitation of her fellow Filipino seafarers on condition that she would only have a shot or two of hard liquor. Juliet woke up the next morning naked and in bed with Maniclang inside the latter’s cabin.

She immediately reported her ordeal to the ship’s Japanese captain, who summoned the four Filipino crew members. They denied raping or sexually assaulting her.

When she disembarked in Sydney, Australia, Juliet reported the incident to the Australian Customs and Border Protection, which forwarded her report to INTERPOL.

When Juliet arrived in the country, she went to the Manila office of NYKFil Ship Management, Inc. where she reported her ordeal, alleging that it was committed by fellow Filipino seafarers. She was also turned away.

In March, Juliet sought the assistance of women’s group Gabriela-Panay and an Ilonggo lawyer. Juliet was referred to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI-6) in Iloilo City.

However, NBI-6 could also not assist her even though the alleged perpetrators were all Filipinos, the alleged crime was committed in a location not within the agency’s territorial jurisdiction.

At the moment, Linsangan is studying the option of filing criminal charges against the four Filipinos in Australia as the alleged rape of Juliet happened while the cruise ship was on its way to Australia.