Four US soldiers plead not guilty in Philippines rape charges

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2006

MANILA (AFP) — Four US Marines pleaded not guilty in a Philippine court Friday on charges of raping a 22-year-old Filipina woman, officials said.

The judge in the case automatically recorded "not guilty" pleas after Daniel Smith, Dominic Duplantis, Keith Silkwood and Chad Carpentier refused to enter a plea, an official told reporters.

Makati court judge Benjamin Pozon remanded the four into the custody of the US embassy after their lawyers successfully fended off a bid by Philippine government prosecutors to have them arrested by police.

They are accused of raping a woman last November outside the former US naval base at Subic Bay northwest of Manila while on leave.

The accuser was not in court Friday.

The marines have insisted only one of...