AFP to protest ‘misbehavior’ of Laude’s fiancé

MANILA, Philippines (Updated) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines will submit to the German Embassy a letter of protest against the German fiancé of slain Filipino transgender woman Jennifer Laude, for breaking into a military base and “assaulting” a military officer. 

Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc said in a statement on Thursday, October 23,  that the AFP will also inform the Bureau of Immigration about the October incident involving Marc Sueselbeck in Camp Aguinaldo.  (WATCH: Jennifer Laude’s fiancé, sister climb military gate)

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines will submit a letter to the German Embassy and the Bureau of Immigration about the misbehavior of the German national who introduced himself as Marc Sueselbeck,” Cabunoc said.

Apologies

Sueselbeck later apologized for pushing a Filipino soldier.  

“He was very apologetic and told us he “just blanked out” and did not know the strength that suddenly seized him and propelled him to do what he did. He was overcome with anger when he saw US marines posted there laughing at Ms. Laude’s efforts to get inside the premises of the facility,” lawyer Harry Roque said in a statement.

“He wishes to apologize to the Filipino marine guarding the outer reaches of the facility he unintentionally ran against,” the statement added.

‘Unlawful entry’

The military said Sueselbeck violated Presidential Decree No. 1227, or the law Punishing Unlawful Entry into Any Military Base in the Philippines.

Sueselbeck and Laude’s sister, Marilou, had climbed a gate of the facility inside the military headquarters Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday, to get near the facility detaining murder suspect US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton.

But Roque argued that the Presidential Decree doesn’t apply to Sueselbeck. He said it only applies to “a person who, having been removed from a Philippine military facility re-enters it or is found there yet again without proper permission from the base commander.”

Assault

Videos that circulated in the news show Sueselbeck pushed a Filipino officer who had tried to prevent his entry into the off-limits facility.

“We also like to ascertain through the German Embassy the true identity and pertinent background information about Mr Sueselbeck whose misbehavior caught the attention of Philippine authorities,” Cabunoc said.

He added: “It is understood that any foreign nationals who visit the Philippines shall follow Philippine laws. The AFP will deal with the incident accordingly through proper channels.”

Pemberton is detained in a 20-foot container van, a facility of the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board. The compound is also known as the Joint US Military Assistance Group (Jusmag) compound.

A detailed narrative report about the intrusion incident will be submitted to the German Embassy. – Rappler.com