Philippines to charge four US soldiers for rape

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines, Tuesday (Reuters) - Philippine prosecutors were set to file rape charges on Tuesday against four U.S. Marines, while clearing two other soldiers accused of assaulting a 22-year-old Filipino woman in early November.

In affidavits, five of the Marines had disputed allegations that the woman was gang-raped in a van at a former U.S. Navy base at Subic Bay, suggesting there was consensual sex.

The sixth soldier, who had also taken part in two-week military exercises with Philippine troops in October, did not submit an affidavit.

The Filipino driver of the van, initially considered to be a witness, was to be charged as an accomplice, according to documents to be submitted to a court in Olongapo City, northwest of Manila.

"We are happy the girl is going to get some kind of justice," said Katrina Legarda, a lawyer for the complainant.

In the charge sheet seen by reporters, Olongapo City chief prosecutor Prudencio Jalandoni said evidence suggested the two soldiers to be cleared were not in the van at the time of the alleged rape.

After receiving the charge sheet later on Tuesday, the court was expected to select a judge who will hear the case.

U.S. officials said the embassy was likely to issue a statement once the charges were filed formally.

The Marines were being held at the U.S. embassy in Manila but Washington has not responded publicly to a request by the Philippine foreign affairs department to transfer custody of the soldiers to local authorities.