'Daniel Smith may still be in RP, on board USS Essex'

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines — US Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, who has reportedly left the country on Friday following his acquittal by the Court of Appeals (CA), may still be in the country aboard USS Essex (LHD2), his mother ship which remains docked at Alava Pier in this free port for the annual US-RP Balikatan exercises.

The US Embassy in Manila, where Smith was detained prior to his acquittal, announced in a statement released on Friday that Smith has left the Philippines “under the authority of the United States military officials.”

However, it was not known exactly how Smith left the country and there were no reports that he has taken a commercial or special flight from any of the airports, including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Subic Bay International Airport.

Even Air Force spokesman Maj. Gen. Gerardo Zamudio has confirmed that there was no US military aircraft that took off from Subic or Villamor Air Base after Smith was ordered released from US custody.

“This leaves a big possibility that Smith might actually be leaving with his mother ship,” a source at the Port of Subic told The STAR.

“Most likely, Smith was flown out of the US embassy by helicopter and then brought to USS Essex,” the source added, pointing out that the Essex is an aircraft carrier equipped with a helipad and runway for fighter plane.

The Essex, which deployed US marine contingents based at the US military facilities in Okinawa, Japan, first docked here on April 14 to bring Marines participating in this year’s Balikatan exercises.

It then left Subic on April 18, but returned to this port on April 24, a day after Smith was acquitted in Manila.

Other sources in the Subic seaport department said they have observed “unusually heightened security measures” at the Essex, as well as its escort ships, after its return here on Friday.

The sources also noted that unlike in the past several years of the military exercise, this time sailors from the Essex were not allowed to go out of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

“Iba ang higpit ngayon (The security precautions are more strictly enforced now),” a source said, adding that sometimes two or three military helicopters could be seen patrolling the area.

Sources theorized that the US embassy may have announced Smith’s departure to cover up the fact that he is still on the Essex, whose scheduled departure remains unannounced.

Seaport sources clarified that the schedule of arrival and departure for US military ships is not announced for security reasons.

Smith first arrived at Subic Bay via USS Essex (LHD) in October 2005 for a similar Balikatan exercise.