US Marines Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, center, is lead out of the courtroom after their case at the Makati Regional Trial Court in suburban Manila on Monday. Smith was found guilty by the court of rape of a Filipino woman and sentenced up to 40 years in prison. Three other US Marines involved in the case were acquitted.(AP photo)
MANILA (4th Update, 3:30 p.m. )- Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, a US Marine from St. Louis, Missouri was convicted Monday in a landmark rape case and sentenced to 40 years in prison, ending a long, emotional trial that has strained US-Philippines ties and tested a joint military pact.
DARAGA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a state of national calamity Sunday as the top Red Cross official estimated more than 1,000 people have been killed after a massive typhoon unleashed walls of black mud on entire villages.
"We're estimating the casualties could reach 1,000, perhaps more," Senator Richard Gordon, who heads the local Red Cross, told Radio DZBB.
CEBU CITY -- Economic prospects for Central Visayas in 2007 are looking good, following investment missions abroad and the promotion of Central Philippines as a tourism center, an official report said.
DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte advised City Councilor Nenen Orcullo to "use her brain" before making any insinuations that the coming election has something to do with his decision to allow aerial spraying for a few more years.
