US soldiers banned from bars, clubs in Philippines

As troops kick off annual joint exercises, US curfews imposed are thought to relate to alleged murder of trans Filipina

April 18, 2015 10:12AM ET

 

The U.S. Pacific Command has banned its troops in the Philippines from bars and nightclubs, a spokesman said Saturday, with the trial underway of a U.S. Marine accused of killing a transgender Filipina he met in a bar.

Thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were set to kick off 10 days of annual joint military exercises Monday, according to Capt. Alex Lim, a spokesman for the U.S. forces.
But there will be strict controls on their free time.

"There is a 10 p.m. curfew. The restrictions include no bars and clubs," he told Agence France-Presse.
He also said that American soldiers will only be allowed to eat meals "in the vicinity of their place of dwelling.”

Lim would not say why the restrictions were imposed, but conceded they came after an American soldier was arrested over the alleged murder of a transgender Filipina he met in a bar in October after taking part in military exercises in the Philippines.  READ MORE