AFP: US cancels Philippines military exercises over rape case [View All]

US cancels Philippines military exercises over rape case

10 minutes ago

MANILA (AFP) - The United States has cancelled its annual joint military exercises
with the Philippines due to the continued detention of a US marine convicted of rape,
according to an embassy spokesman.

"Due to the current custody issue (over the US marine), the usual protection provided
to US servicemembers is in doubt," embassy spokesman Matt Lussenhop told AFP.

"Until the government and the courts ensure the Philippines is in full compliance with
the VFA (visiting forces agreement), it would not be prudent to bring additional US
troops to the Philippines at this time," he said.

Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith was sentenced to 40 years jail on December 4 by a
suburban Manila court for the rape of a Filipina last year.

Currently held in a suburban Manila jail, he has become the centre of a dispute between
the US government and the Philippine courts, which refuse to hand him over to the US
embassy.

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