Gov’t lawyer who quit over ‘Nicole’ rape case is back

A former Arroyo administration official who resigned over a disagreement with the handling of a rape case against a United States Marine has been appointed the new spokesperson of the Department of National Defense (DND).

Lawyer Zosimo Jesus Paredes II was installed last Monday as acting director of the DND’s public affairs office and concurrent department spokesperson.

He replaced senior military assistant Colonel Hernando Iriberri who served in the post for a few months.

A former member of the defunct Philippine Constabulary, Paredes served as executive director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement for nearly three years.

He resigned on Jan. 31, 2007, voicing his objection to Malacanang’s decision to return Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith to the custody of the US Embassy even after the former had been convicted of the rape of the Filipino woman known only as “Nicole.”

Smith remained in the US Embassy’s custody until the Court of Appeals acquitted him on April 23, 2009.

“I am very happy. I am excited because I’m back where I used to be,” Paredes told reporters.

Paredes is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1971 which counts among its members Senators Gregorio Honasan and Panfilo Lacson and dismissed general Carlos Garcia who is serving a two-year jail term for a court-martial conviction in 2005.

He twice ran unsuccessfully for senator in 2007 under the Kapatiran party and in 2010 under evangelist Eddie Villanueva’s Bangon Pilipinas party.