2 U.S. Marines Face Attempted Murder Charges After Vehicle Injures Striker

Philippine police filed attempted murder charges Wednesday against two U.S. Marines whose military vehicle hit a barricade set up by strikers at Clark Air Base and slightly injured one worker.

A police officer said that Marine Sgt. David Akers and Cpl. Gary Motler also were charged with disrupting a peaceful meeting. The hometowns of the two were not immediately available.

The charges were filed with the government prosecutor’s office which, with sufficient evidence, could elevate the case to a trial court. The officer did not say what sentences the Marines could receive if they are convicted.

Clark authorities said they were unaware of the charges and declined to comment.

On Tuesday, eight U.S. Marine vehicles and their Philippine air force jeep escort were passing through the gate when the second vehicle in the convoy accidentally hit a wooden barricade.

Pieces of the barricade hit a striker, one of several dozen picketers guarding a gate at Clark, bruising him in the back, Clark spokesmen and police said. Clark is 50 miles north of Manila.

U.S. military authorities said the incident was an accident and apologized.

But union officials called it a provocation against Filipino workers whose strike began Sunday at Clark and five other U.S. facilities over wage increases. The strikers contend that the United States has violated a bilateral agreement covering Filipino employees that foresees salary increases based on a survey of 35 Philippine firms.

The U.S. Congress has placed a 3% cap on pay increases for federal employees, including those oversees, but the recent wage survey suggested an 18% increase.