President Barack Obama called President Arroyo of the Philippines on Friday morning, March 13, 2009. They reaffirmed their commitment to the long-standing U.S.-Philippines alliance, including the Visiting Forces Agreement, which remains critical to the bilateral relationship and strategic interests of the two nations.
The Philippines is a military ally of the United States in Asia, and US forces are periodically in the insurgency-hit southern island of Mindanao for anti-terrorism training.
But the US Embassy has refused to submit to a Philippine Supreme Court order to return Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith to Philippine custody. Hence, the Philippine government was forced to defend the treaty.
Smith raped a Filipina at a bar in the former US Naval Base in Subic, Zambales and was sentenced for 40 years imprisonment in Philippine prison. Washington called off large-scale military exercises in protest, forcing the Philippine government to transfer him to a detention facility in the US Embassy.
For the past two years, Smith has been under “temporary custodial arrangement” while his case is on appeal, but the Philippine Supreme Court told the government to regain custody of Smith as long as his case is on appeal.
The US President commended President Arroyo on her country’s efforts in countering terrorism and modernizing the armed forces. Furthermore, the two leaders discussed the need to work closely together on the global economic crisis as well as on other areas of common concern, including climate change, education, and interfaith dialogue.
