By Associated Press
Manila, Philippines – The U.S. has canceled a joint military exercise with the Philippines because of a dispute over the custody of a St. Louis Marine appealing his rape conviction.
The Balikatan 2007 exercise had been scheduled for February, but the U-S Embassy says it's been canceled due to the custody issue now mired in the Philippine judicial system. The Philippine Court of Appeals on Tuesday rejected Lance Corporal Daniel Smith's bid to be transferred from a Manila jail to the custody of the U.S. Embassy while he appeals.
The 21 year old Smith earlier sought a temporary restraining order against a judge's decision to detain him at a Manila city jail during his appeal. He was convicted December fourth of rape and sentenced to 40 years in prison. Three other Marines were acquitted in the case.