The Philippines vowed Thursday to review the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States after a rape case involving a U.S. marine had caused a diplomatic crisis with Washington and triggered domestic protests.

"The government is resolved to review the Visiting Forces Agreement and, if warranted, to work with Congress to amend certain provisions thereof in order to prevent future controversies," said presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye in a statement.

He said both the U.S. and the Philippine governments have learned good lessons from the case, in which U.S. marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith was convicted of raping a Filipina woman in November 2005. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison by a Filipino court early last month.

The Philippine government transferred Smith to U.S. embassy in Manila late last month after the United States threatened to suspend military cooperation with the Philippines and cut humanitarian aid if Smith was not turned over to the U.S. side.

Under VFA, the U.S. has custody rights over U.S. servicemen who commit a crime in the Philippines.

The transfer of Smith to U.S. custody has triggered protests from opposition lawmakers, lawyers and women's groups here.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Tuesday asked her countrymen to understand the decision, which she said was made in the interests of the Philippines and was aimed at preventing further deterioration of relations with the United States.

Source: Xinhua