In a surprise development, it is being reported that Suzette Sombilon Nicolas , the 25-year-old Filipina raped by American soldier Daniel Smith, has left for the United States “to live there for good.”

Her lawyer, Evalyn Ursua confirmed to told ABS-CBN Network carrier AM radio Station, DZMM, how she was informed of this yesterday afternoon by Suzette’s mother who visited her at home to give her a letter from Nicole “thanking her for her services.”

Ursua said that since she is “ethically bound to say nothing about what I think happened,” all she could do was to accept the decision of her client and “wait until I am able to personally talk to her.”

How was the Filipina rape victim able to fly to the homeland of her assailant with not even her lawyer being told? She apparently got both a visa to enter the United States, and settle there.Who facilitated the trip, including the financial arrangements to make it?

Quite curiously, Suzette’s departure last week yet came just days before the publication in the Los Angeles Times of a report bearing the by-line of Paul Watson dated Monday, March 16.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-philippines-rape16-2009mar16,0,2464018.story

The story indicates that the LA Times correspondent wrote and filed the story from Manila as it included his perceptions of how “Filipinos are angry” over the non-resolution of Smith’s continued stay in the US Embassy.

Watson also quotes statements from US Emassy spokesperson Rebecca Thomkpson and Congresswoman Luzviminda Ilagan.

Was Watson’s trip to Manila coincidental or was the story developed precisely as an advancer of sorts to this ‘disclosure’ of Suzette Nicolas’ unannounced immigration to America?

Does Suzette’s acceptance of the opportunity to live in the U.S, indicate a de facto legal settlement of her personal complaint with the inference that the justice she that eluded herin the Philippines would now be accorded her in America?

At what price?

UPDATE:

The Philippine Daily Inquirer is now reporting Suzette’s recantation:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090317-194664/Nicole-recants

With due credits to the PDI, Filipinos are seeing the face of the victim whose fight of honor many of them took up.

With her decision to recant, Suzette has answered this post’s question.

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