US rejects Philippines over marine custody

Invoking the Philippines-United States Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the United States turned down the Philippines’ request for custody over a US marine accused of killing transgender Filipino woman Jennifer Laude on Philippine soil. The US government said, however, that it would make sure that Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton will appear in court during his trial. The Philippines said it is “disappointed” that the US chose to “invoke [its] rights under the VFA to maintain custody” of Pemberton. Also citing the VFA, Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs said that it asked the US to waive custody over the marine. Pemberton is detained at Camp Aguinaldo, headquarters of the Philippine military.

Read the full story on Rappler.