The story of the Filipina woman who recanted her rape accusations against a US Marine is now being challenged by women’s rights groups in the Philippines:

Women’s rights groups in the Philippines are demanding an investigation into a rape victim’s recantation of testimony that sentenced a Marine to 40 years in prison two years ago.

A petition was filed Monday before the Philippines Supreme Court by the Gabriela Women’s Party, several other women’s organizations and former lawyers of the rape victim, known publicly as “Nicole.” They are asking for the court to look into the circumstances surrounding an affidavit the woman signed March 12, just before Nicole left for the U.S. to live with her American boyfriend.

The affidavit says Nicole now “doubts” the accuracy of her testimony during the rape trial of Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith in December 2006. At that time, she claimed she was raped by Smith in a van after a night of heavy drinking in the Subic Bay Freeport.

The affidavit was notarized by a lawyer for Smith, who said the notarization was a “matter of convenience” done at the same time Nicole accepted 100,000 pesos (about $2,000) in compensatory damages the court ordered when Smith was convicted.

Smith is being held on the grounds of the U.S. Embassy in Manila while an appeal of his conviction is pending. Gabriela and the other petitioners claim the “Smith camp” coerced Nicole into recanting her story.  [Stars & Stripes]

It will be interesting to see if mob justice takes precedent over the wishes of the Filipina woman who recanted her story against the US Marine.