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Wednesday, January 03, 2007
US to resume military exercises in RP: official
MANILA -- Washington has decided to proceed with joint, large-scale military exercises with the Philippines after getting custody of a Marine convicted of raping a Filipino woman, the US Embassy announced Tuesday.
The US canceled the annual Balikatan war exercises in the Philippines this year due to a thorny dispute over custody of Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, who was ordered detained by a Filipino judge in a suburban Manila jail after he was convicted on December 4 of rape.
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However, the Philippine government moved Smith to the US Embassy from the Makati City jail late Friday while he appeals his conviction and a 40-year jail sentence in a bid to diffuse tensions with Manila's most important ally.
The decision set off a storm of criticism against President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo's government.
US Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop told The Associated Press that the cancellation of the military maneuvers, which involve thousands of American and Philippine troops, was due to the custody dispute.
He said it raised questions about the legal protection accorded to American troops in the country under a bilateral accord called the Visiting Forces Agreement.
"Now both sides are in compliance with the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement," he said. "It's encouraging that we can now go forward with the exercises."
Smith, 21, of St. Louis, Missouri, was ordered by Judge Benjamin Pozon to be confined at the Makati City jail while he appeals his rape conviction. He asked, however, the Court of Appeals to be returned to American custody while he pursued his appeal.
A provision in the VFA, which governs the conduct of US troops in the country, states that any accused US serviceman shall remain in American custody until all judicial proceedings are exhausted.
Pozon argued that provision no longer applies after conviction.
Arroyo's government backed the US position and allowed Smith's transfer to the US Embassy. She said Tuesday the government had to make the decision to prevent a further deterioration of Manila's ties with Washington.
The Philippine military welcomed the US announcement, saying it lifted an obstacle to efforts by the forces of both countries to jointly train for future contingencies.
The yearly Balikatan exercises -- which bring 3,000 to 5,000 US servicemen to the Philippines -- have helped train Filipino soldiers in counter-terrorism, particularly in the south where al-Qaida-linked militants are active. (AP)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (January 3, 2007 issue)
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