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Source record / NCIS investigation file / Military Sealift Command sexual misconduct

Subic Bay Hotel-Room Assault Report Involving USNS Bowditch Went From Local Police to DOJ Declination.

NCIS records say a person connected to USNS Bowditch reported that she was kissed, pushed onto a hotel bed, and touched over her clothing in Subic Bay before escaping. Local police closed their case after she left the Philippines, and DOJ later declined federal prosecution.

Sexual AssaultUSNS BowditchSubic BayPhilippinesHotelForeign PortLocal Law EnforcementDepartment of Justice Declination

This page summarizes one Naval Criminal Investigative Service case file. The source PDF and optical character recognition transcript appear below so readers can compare the summary against the record.

Allegation
Sexual assault
Location
Mansion Garden Hotel / Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Key date
Alleged August 26, 2013
Outcome
DOJ declined federal prosecution

What the NCIS File Says

USNS Bowditch command contacted NCISRA Manila to report a sexual assault allegation at the Mansion Garden Hotel in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The reporting person said the accused made unwanted sexual advances in his personally procured hotel room, kissed her, pushed her onto a bed, attempted to separate her legs, and touched her breast over her clothing. She said she was able to get away, return to the ship, and report the incident through command.

The incident had already been reported to Subic Bay law enforcement, which initially had jurisdiction. NCIS monitored that case until local law enforcement indicated it would close because the reporting person had left the Philippines and was not cooperating.

NCIS deployed to Subic Bay, conducted interviews, provided victim/witness information, and later sent the investigation to DOJ's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section. DOJ advised that federal prosecution was not warranted, and NCIS closed the case.

Case Timeline

August 26, 2013
Hotel-room allegation

The reporting person said the assault occurred at Mansion Garden Hotel in Subic Bay.

August 28, 2013
NCIS deployment

NCISRA Manila deployed to Subic Bay Freeport Zone and initiated its investigation.

June 2014
DOJ review request

NCIS provided the case to DOJ Criminal Division for prosecutorial review.

July 8, 2014
Declination

DOJ issued a formal declination of prosecution.

July 11, 2014
Closure notice

NCIS informed the reporting person of the declination and closed the investigation.

Why This Record Matters

  • The case moved from host-nation law enforcement to NCIS monitoring and then to DOJ review.
  • The reporting person's departure from the Philippines affected the local investigation.
  • The transcript omits four interim reports, so the final public page should identify the record as a closed-report summary.

NCIS Source Document

This is the NCIS Report of Investigation for the USNS Bowditch file. MLAA has preserved the source PDF, Bates range, and NCIS file number so readers can inspect the record directly.

First page preview for Subic Bay Hotel-Room Assault Report Involving USNS Bowditch Went From Local Police to DOJ Declination.

First page of the NCIS case file.

Source type
NCIS investigation file
Command or vessel
USNS BOWDITCH (T-AGS 62) /62306
NCIS file number
28AUG13-SNMQ-00166-8SNA/C
Bates range
0240-0241
Source file length
2 pages
View NCIS Source PDF for Case 28AUG13-SNMQ-00166-8SNA/C

Readable OCR Transcript

The transcript below reproduces the substantive report text from the NCIS file in readable form, including the executive summary when one appears in the source. Paragraph numbers come from the original report. Redactions are shown as [REDACTED]. Because the text was generated from OCR, verify exact quotations against the source PDF.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. On 26AUG13, [REDACTED] USNS BOWDITCH (T-AGS 62), contacted NCISRA Manila to report the alleged sexual assault of)[REDACTED] advised the assault occurred on 26AUG13, at the Mansion Garden Hotel, Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ), Philippines, whilée [REDACTED] were in [REDACTED] personally procured hotel room [REDACTED] also advised the incident had already been reported to the Subic Bay Law Enforcement Department (SBMA LED), who were investigating. NCISRA Manila contacted the SBMA LED and confirmed they had investigative jurisdiction. NCISRA Manila monitored the SBMA LED until the SBMA LED indicated they would close the investigation due to [REDACTED] departure from the Philippines and her lack of cooperation. On 28AUG13, NCISRA Manila deployed to the SBFZ and initiated captioned investigation. NCISRA Manila conducted interviews which revealed the crime occurred within LOPMA), (b)( nsion Garden Hotel, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, aftexp[REDACTED] accompanied [REDACTED] into his hotel room. Inside the hotel room, [REDACTED] made unwanted sexual advances towards[REDACTED] claimed [REDACTED] kissed her and then pushed her onto a bed and attempted to separate her legs. At one point, [REDACTED] hand touched [REDACTED] breast over her clothing [REDACTED] able to separate from [REDACTED] which time she fled from his room, returned to the ship, and reported the incident through her Command. [REDACTED] Subsequently removed from the ship and [REDACTED] requested to return to her duty station in MS. Reporting Agent (RA) provided an NCIS Victim/Witness Pamphlet to [REDACTED] 28AUG13. On 008JUL14, a review of this investigation was completed by the [REDACTED] Deputy Chief, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Washington D.C. [REDACTED] advised a federal prosecution is not warranted; therefore, this investigation is closed.

NARRATIVE

1. Subsequent to the Submission of Reference (D), in JUN14, Reporting Agent (RA) provided a copy of this investigation to [REDACTED] Deputy Chief, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington D.C., and requested a review for prosecutorial merit. On 08JUL14, [REDACTED] responded to RA's request with a formal declination of prosecution letter, Exhibit (17) pertains.

2. All logical investigative leads have been conducted and the U.S. Department of Justice has declined prosecution; therefore, this investigation is closed.

3. On 11JUL14, RA advised [REDACTED] prosecutorial declination and informed her the investigation is now closed. [REDACTED] Counsel, Military Sealift Command Far East, has been briefed on the status of this investigation.