US to RP: Smith won’t run

The US Embassy has assured the government that a US Marine convicted of raping a Filipina will not be spirited out of the country. Interior Undersecretary Marius Corpus told The STAR in a text message that Lance Corporal Daniel Smith will be returned to his detention quarters at the US Embassy in Manila after he is discharged from the Makati Medical Center, where he is undergoing medical examination.

"Yes, (US Embassy officials) made a commitment," he said. "Although Smith is a convicted felon, he is still a human being and entitled to medical attention."

Corpus said he approved for humanitarian reasons the request of US Embassy officials on Tuesday that Smith be taken to the hospital after he complained of abdominal pains.

He has been in close coordination with US Embassy officials about Smith’s case, he added.

As of yesterday, Smith was undergoing some medical laboratory examinations at the hospital, Corpus said.

Corpus said government representatives randomly visit Smith at the embassy to ensure that he is not given special treatment by US authorities. "The Americans are in good faith. They comply with (the court order)."

Corpus said when he visited Smith before the Holy Week, he saw that he remains detained in a 12 x 10 square-foot room under 24-hour guard.

Corpus heads the inspection panel tasked to regularly check on Smith.

However, Smith’s lawyer, Jose Justiniano said he does not know if his client was indeed brought to a hospital. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Michael Punongbayan