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Transfer of Marine to US Custody Clears Way for Philippine Military
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1597BDB:A6F02AD83191E160840C35D254EF454D9574F7DCC14957C0 Under pact between
US and Philippines, Marine convicted of raping Filipino woman to be
held US custody while appeal under way The U.S. Embassy in Manila says
large military exercises in the Philippines scheduled for this year
can go ahead now that a U.S. Marine convicted of raping a Filipino
woman has been transferred to embassy custody. Douglas Bakshian has
more from Manila.



The annual war games, called Balikatan, usually involve as many as
5,000 U.S. troops and are a sign of the close ties between Manila and
Washington, two long-standing allies.









Filipino protesters hold a sign depicting the face of convicted U.S.
marine Daniel Smith during a rally in front of the Court of Appeals in
ManilaBut the exercises were canceled because 21-year-old Marine Lance
Corporal Daniel Smith was being held in a Manila jail. He was
convicted last month of raping a woman while his ship was in the
Philippines, and he was sentenced to 40 years in prison.



Under a pact between the United States and the Philippines, called the
Visiting Forces Agreement, the Marine is to be held in U.S. custody
while appealing his conviction. That appeal is under way.



Just a few days ago the Philippine government transferred Corporal
Smith to U.S. embassy custody. The move overrides the decision of a
local judge who had put him in a local jail.

Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop says this clears away the obstacle
blocking the military exercises.



"As of now we are going to go forward with those exercises due to the
change in the situation of the custody of Lance Corporal Smith and the
adherence to the Visiting Forces Agreement by the government of the
Philippines," he said.



No dates were immediately given for the exercises, which were
originally planned for February.

The rape case has prompted protests in the Philippines against the
country's close military relationship with the United States. Critics
of President Gloria Arroyo have accused her of giving in to American
pressure by transferring the Marine to U.S. custody. She says her
government acted properly and she is confident the courts will uphold
the move.


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