US envoy says Smith not a media circus
US Ambassador to Manila Kristie Kenney on Wednesday said convicted rapist Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith is "not a media circus" that everybody in the Philippines can just pry into whenever they want to.
"He is not a media circus. He's a prisoner...like any other prisoner. He's not a celebrity. And I wish to keep it that way, in keeping with the conditions of his confinement," Kenney told reporters in Camp Crame when asked why Smith is not being shown to the public amid fears that the convicted rapist is not confined at the US Embassy in Manila.
Smith was convicted by a Makati City Regional Trial Court in December last year for raping a Filipina in Subic, Zambales in November 2005. His three other co-accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
The custody of Smith became a contentious issue because although the court ordered his detention at the Makati City Jail, the executive branch heeded to the appeal of the United States government to transfer him to the US Embassy, invoking the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement.
Kenney maintained that Smith remains in custody at the US Embassy compound, "in keeping with our agreement."
She said her words should "absolutely" be enough to assure all Filipinos that Smith is in confinement. She disclosed Philippine law enforcement officials even visit him regularly to check on his condition.
"Philippine authorities come to visit him and they have access 24 hours a day, anytime they want. But we are not going to turn that into a media show," Kenney said.
The envoy said that although she does not visit Smith regularly, she is aware that Smith "keeps reading books," and "spends most of his time studying" as he "hopes to be a cook someday."
"His health conditions as I understand it are fine," Kenney added.
The case of Smith remains under review at the higher court as any lifetime imprisonment verdict should automatically go through under Philippine laws. - GMANews.TV
"He is not a media circus. He's a prisoner...like any other prisoner. He's not a celebrity. And I wish to keep it that way, in keeping with the conditions of his confinement," Kenney told reporters in Camp Crame when asked why Smith is not being shown to the public amid fears that the convicted rapist is not confined at the US Embassy in Manila.
Smith was convicted by a Makati City Regional Trial Court in December last year for raping a Filipina in Subic, Zambales in November 2005. His three other co-accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
The custody of Smith became a contentious issue because although the court ordered his detention at the Makati City Jail, the executive branch heeded to the appeal of the United States government to transfer him to the US Embassy, invoking the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement.
Kenney maintained that Smith remains in custody at the US Embassy compound, "in keeping with our agreement."
She said her words should "absolutely" be enough to assure all Filipinos that Smith is in confinement. She disclosed Philippine law enforcement officials even visit him regularly to check on his condition.
"Philippine authorities come to visit him and they have access 24 hours a day, anytime they want. But we are not going to turn that into a media show," Kenney said.
The envoy said that although she does not visit Smith regularly, she is aware that Smith "keeps reading books," and "spends most of his time studying" as he "hopes to be a cook someday."
"His health conditions as I understand it are fine," Kenney added.
The case of Smith remains under review at the higher court as any lifetime imprisonment verdict should automatically go through under Philippine laws. - GMANews.TV
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
5:48 AM
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