Philippines Boils over Marine Transfer
IslamOnline.net & Newspapers
CAIRO — The Philippines was boiling Tuesday, January 2, over the "illegal" transfer of a US marine convicted of raping a Filipina to the US custody, as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo desperately tried to justify why she had to bow to the US pressure.
"If like Mrs. Arroyo we cave in to this threat, we have no business talking about self-respect and love for our country,” opposition Senator Panfilo Lacson told the Philippines' Daily Tribune.
"It is now the national dignity and sovereignty that have been trampled upon, thanks but no thanks to Mrs. Arroyo,” Lacson lashed out.
Lance-Corporal Daniel Smith was whisked away from a Manila jail to the custody of the US embassy on December 29, in a staunch defiance to a Philippine court ruling that denied a US request for custody under the provisions of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
Smith was sentenced on Monday, December 4, to 40 years in jail for raping a 22-year-old Filipina given the pseudonym "Nicole" during the trial.
Critics questioned the legal basis of the way Smith was hustled out from his jail.
"It’s not clear why the right of Filipinos was not prioritized in this decision," Philippines Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan said.
"We’re a country and that like them (US), there are laws that need to be implemented. Don’t take it personally when it comes to upholding our sovereignty."
The lawmaker said it is sad the US Embassy did not follow the decision of out court and called for a suspension of the VFA in light of the latest controversy.
Lawyers of the 23-year-old Filipina are set to file charges against top Philippine government officials for ordering the latter's transfer of Smith.
Outraged by the government's submission to the US arm-twisting, people staged regular protests outside the US Embassy in Manila, calling US President George Bush and President Arroyo "the king and queen of rapists."
Women’s groups in the country said the case was just the first step in finding justice for other Filipino women who were victims of various forms of violence and abuse by US servicemen.
Strategic Ties
The palace tried to appease the mounting public outrage, appealing for understanding the government's action as a move to stop bilateral relations from worsening.
"The government had to take this action in order to forestall the further deterioration in our strategic relationship with the United States," President Arroyo said in a statement, according to Agence France Presse (AFP).
"This difficult decision was made and taken with only the best interest of the Philippines in mind."
Arroyo said that her country wasn't complying with the VFA pact.
The VFA, which allows US troops to engage in military exercises and other activities in the Philippines, provides legal protection for US troops.
It requires that any US soldier charged with a crime in the Philippines remain in the custody of the US embassy until "legal proceedings" have been completed.
In a swift reward, the United States declared on Tuesday that the annual joint military exercises with the Philippines, which were previously cancelled, are now back on schedule.
Washington last month called off annual joint war games with its key non-NATO ally in Southeast Asia because of the row over Smith's custody.
The US is the main defense ally of the Philippines.
The case has stirred anti-American feelings in this former US colony, where American troops held permanent bases until 1992.
Moved by the mounting public resentment, many parliament members called for a review of the military agreements between Washington and Manila.
IslamOnline.net & Newspapers
CAIRO — The Philippines was boiling Tuesday, January 2, over the "illegal" transfer of a US marine convicted of raping a Filipina to the US custody, as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo desperately tried to justify why she had to bow to the US pressure.
"If like Mrs. Arroyo we cave in to this threat, we have no business talking about self-respect and love for our country,” opposition Senator Panfilo Lacson told the Philippines' Daily Tribune.
"It is now the national dignity and sovereignty that have been trampled upon, thanks but no thanks to Mrs. Arroyo,” Lacson lashed out.
Lance-Corporal Daniel Smith was whisked away from a Manila jail to the custody of the US embassy on December 29, in a staunch defiance to a Philippine court ruling that denied a US request for custody under the provisions of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
Smith was sentenced on Monday, December 4, to 40 years in jail for raping a 22-year-old Filipina given the pseudonym "Nicole" during the trial.
Critics questioned the legal basis of the way Smith was hustled out from his jail.
"It’s not clear why the right of Filipinos was not prioritized in this decision," Philippines Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan said.
"We’re a country and that like them (US), there are laws that need to be implemented. Don’t take it personally when it comes to upholding our sovereignty."
The lawmaker said it is sad the US Embassy did not follow the decision of out court and called for a suspension of the VFA in light of the latest controversy.
Lawyers of the 23-year-old Filipina are set to file charges against top Philippine government officials for ordering the latter's transfer of Smith.
Outraged by the government's submission to the US arm-twisting, people staged regular protests outside the US Embassy in Manila, calling US President George Bush and President Arroyo "the king and queen of rapists."
Women’s groups in the country said the case was just the first step in finding justice for other Filipino women who were victims of various forms of violence and abuse by US servicemen.
Strategic Ties
The palace tried to appease the mounting public outrage, appealing for understanding the government's action as a move to stop bilateral relations from worsening.
"The government had to take this action in order to forestall the further deterioration in our strategic relationship with the United States," President Arroyo said in a statement, according to Agence France Presse (AFP).
"This difficult decision was made and taken with only the best interest of the Philippines in mind."
Arroyo said that her country wasn't complying with the VFA pact.
The VFA, which allows US troops to engage in military exercises and other activities in the Philippines, provides legal protection for US troops.
It requires that any US soldier charged with a crime in the Philippines remain in the custody of the US embassy until "legal proceedings" have been completed.
In a swift reward, the United States declared on Tuesday that the annual joint military exercises with the Philippines, which were previously cancelled, are now back on schedule.
Washington last month called off annual joint war games with its key non-NATO ally in Southeast Asia because of the row over Smith's custody.
The US is the main defense ally of the Philippines.
The case has stirred anti-American feelings in this former US colony, where American troops held permanent bases until 1992.
Moved by the mounting public resentment, many parliament members called for a review of the military agreements between Washington and Manila.
