MANILA: The United States government announced Tuesday that it was going ahead with a major military exercise with the Philippines. The announcement came three days after Manila transferred to U.S. custody an American soldier convicted last month of raping a Filipina.
A local courts refusal to turn the Marine, Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, over to the U.S. prompted Washington to cancel the exercise, originally scheduled next month and would involve 5,000 American and Filipino troops.
Critics have denounced President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for allegedly succumbing to U.S. pressure. They said the transfer, which was carried out without a court order, undermined the Philippine judiciary.
Arroyo defended Smiths transfer. The government had to take this action in order to forestall the further deterioration in our strategic relationship with the United States, Arroyo said in a statement on Tuesday.
Matthew Lussenhop, a U.S. spokesman here, said Washington did not pressure Manila. I wouldnt characterize it as pressure, he told ABS-CBN television. It is certainly good that we go forward now.
Below is Arroyo’s statement today:
Statement of the President
I wish to appeal for understanding from the people that this action will not affect the substantive issues at bar, nor impede justice and the rule of law.
The government had to take this action in order to forestall the further deterioration in our strategic relationship with the United States, which was being rapidly eroded by our non-compliance with the Visiting Forces Agreement.
The Executive Branch is prepared to face legal challenges to this decision and we are confident that its legitimacy and wisdom will be upheld.
This difficult decision was made and taken with only the best of the Philippines in mind.
I therefore ask all Filipinos to stand by it and to stand behind our alliance with the United States to fight terror and poverty.
