MARINE CASE UPDATE 05/18/2007

UNCLAS MANILA 001642 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR KCRM CASC RP SUBJECT: MARINE CASE UPDATE 05/18/2007 REF: MANILA 1369 ¶1. (SBU) Attorneys for Lance Corporal Daniel J. Smith confirmed on May 18 that they would submit Smith's appellate brief to the Court of Appeals before the May 19 deadline. The Philippine Solicitor General is aware of this development and had earlier indicated that her office will move to submit the government response as expeditiously as possible. ¶2. (SBU) Smith remains in U.S. custody on Chancery grounds and continues to be in good condition following his hospitalization for a non-life threatening condition in late April. He has resumed receiving regular visits from his Philippine pastors and lawyers as well as Embassy medical personnel. He is still restricted to non-streneous activity and has yet to resume his exercise routine, but his spirits are good. ¶3. (SBU) Since the brief media coverage on his hospitalization in April, virtually all Philippine media have been focused on mid-term elections, and there has been no media attention to Smith nor inquiries to the Embassy's Public Affairs Section. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website: http:// www.state.sgov.gov/ JONES