The Philippine government said Thursday the United States military has implemented stricter policies for American soldiers holding joint military exercises with Filipino counterparts to avoid the repetition of an affair involving a U.S. marine and a Filipina woman which led to a diplomatic crisis between the two countries over the past few weeks.

The Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis told local television that U.S. military is now prohibiting its personnel from leaving areas where joint military exercises are being held even if they are not on duty, and the U.S. military is also prohibiting its soldiers from going to night clubs and bars and can only drink two bottles of beer when dining out.

Meanwhile, U.S. soldiers are also not allowed to hire vehicles for their personal use, he said.

U.S. marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith was convicted of raping a Filipina woman by a Philippine court in Makati, Metro Manila, early last month. This led to a diplomatic crisis between the U.S. and Philippine governments because of the court's order to put him in a Filipino jail.

The U.S. side cited a bilateral visiting force agreement to ask for his transfer to U.S. custody while his case was still pending in an appeal court. After the Makati court denied transferring Smith to U.S. custody, the U.S suspended its participation in the joint military exercises and humanitarian aid being extended to the Philippine government.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo personally ordered his transfer to the U.S. embassy here late last month to avoid deterioration of relations with Washington.

Smith was convicted of raping a Filipina in Subic Bay Free Port on Nov. 1, 2005, after he joined a joint military exercise with Filipino troops there.

On Wednesday, an court of appeal here tacitly recognized the government decision to transfer Smith to U.S. embassy.

Source: Xinhua