In the Philippines, a U.S. marine has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for raping a 23-year-old Filipino woman at a Navy base in Manila last year. The marine, Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, plans to appeal the ruling. Three other marines were acquitted in the case. This is Renato Reyes, who led protests outside the courtroom.

Renato Reyes: “The verdict, while we are happy with the conviction of at least one U.S. marine, it goes to show the weaknesses, the difficulties in prosecuting any American soldier under the current Visiting Forces Agreement. It has become difficult to gain the custody of the suspects. It has become difficult to really investigate the incident.”

The case has generated a lot of attention in the Philippines, where many residents oppose the U.S. military presence.