MARINE CASEUPDATE 03/23/2007

UNCLAS MANILA 00059 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR KCRM CASC RP SUBJECT: MARINE CASEUPDATE 03/23/2007 REF: MANILA 779 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) Lance Corporal Daniel J. Smith remains inU.S. custody on Chancery grounds and continues t be in good health and spirits. He continues toreceive regular visits from his Philippine pastos and lawyers, and is able to exercise on the Embssy grounds. ¶2. (SBU) Smith's parents arrived n Manila March 20 for a one-week visit. The parnts have visited with theirson several hours daily since their arrival and are expected to continue to do so until their scheduled departure March 26. The visit of Smith's parents has thus far gone smoothly -- no incidents of any type -- and has escaped media attention so far. ¶3. (SBU) Philippine government officials have not visited Smith since Lieutenant General Edilberto Adan (ret.), newly-appointed Executive Director of the Visiting Forces Agreement Commission, visited Smith March 14. The five-minute meeting was without incident. ¶4. (U) There have been no anti-Visiting Forces Agreement demonstrations at or near the Embassy since March 8. ¶5. (U) The Court of Appeals has received the Makati Regional Trial Court's record and is in the process of certifying its completeness. Upon such certification, the Court of Appeals will notify defense counsel, which will then have 30 days to file Smith's appellate brief. 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