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MANILA, Philippines – US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton, the suspect in the murder of transgender woman Jennifer Laude has transferred to Camp Aguinaldo but he remains under the custody of the United States.
Carmela Fonbuena reports.
A US Navy chopper brings US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton to Camp Aguinaldo.
He will be detained there while the preliminary hearing for the murder of transgender woman Jennifer Laude is ongoing.
GEN. GREGORIO CATAPANG, AFP CHIEF OF STAFF: Accompanied by US and Philippine officials, he was airlifted by an aircraft from his temporary detention facility onboard USS Peleliu that is docked in Subic. He will be detained at the mutual defense board security engagement facility inside the camp while the preliminary investigation is ongoing.
A 20-foot van inside the compound of the Joint US Military Assistance Group serves as his detention facility. It’s air-conditioned and he will sleep in a military bed. Two American and 4 Filipino soldiers are assigned to secure Pemberton.
The Visiting Forces Agreement or VFA says Philippine courts will have jurisdiction over erring US troops. But custody will remain with the US until the completion of the judicial proceedings. But the agreement also allows the Philippine government to ask for custody, which the Department of Foreign Affairs did in the case of Pemberton.
GEN. GREGORIO CATAPANG, AFP CHIEF OF STAFF: I think the US government is also sensitive of, to our feelings that this unfortunate incident happened and they also want to show that they believe in our justice system
Pemberton is the first American soldier in recent history to be detained in Camp Aguinaldo.
It is a very different from the first case that tested VFA – the rape trial of US Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, where the US insisted on keeping him at the US embassy during the trial.
The Laude family arrives in Camp Aguinaldo. Jennifer’s sister and her fiance climb the gate to get near Pemberon’s detention facility. They attempted to confront the US marine, but failed.
The public acceptance of EDCA may depend on making sure Jennifer Laude will get the justice she deserves.
This is not a simple murder case. It blows up as the Philippine and the US militaries await the ruling of the Philippine Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, the new deal meant to increase US military presence in the Philippines.
Carmela Fonbuena. Rappler, Camp Aguinaldo. – Rappler.com
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