Arroyo justifies transfer of convicted US Marine

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http://www.khaleejtimes.ae/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2007/January/theworld_January37.xml§ion=theworld

MANILA - A row has broken out in the Philippines over the transfer of a US marine convicted of rape to US custody, but President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said on Tuesday the move was aimed at preserving bilateral ties.

Critics say the transfer of Lance-Corporal Daniel Smith from a Manila jail to the custody of the US embassy on Dec. 29 amounted to contempt of court since no tribunal had granted the required permission.

Arroyo said it was a decision by the executive.

“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,” she said in a statement.