MANILA – A United State marine corp was charged on Monday with the murder of a Philippine transgender woman in October.
Scott Pemberton, 19, is suspected of killing Jeffrey “Jennifer’’ Laude, 26, found dead in a hotel room in Olongapo City on October 11.
She was last seen with Pemberton whom she reportedly met at a bar.
Pemberton is in U.S. custody within the Philippines’ central military base in Manila.
Olongapo City Prosecutor, Emilie Santos said it was too soon to tell whether Pemberton would be moved to Philippine custody now that he has been formally charged.
The case has led to renew calls for the lifting of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the pact that regulates U.S. forces stationed in the Philippines, whereby U.S. authorities retain a degree of legal jurisdiction over their troops.
“In accordance with the VFA, we look forward to the full cooperation of the U.S. government in ensuring that justice is secured for Jeffrey,’’ the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The city prosecutor said that there were “aggravating qualifying circumstances’’ to convinced the panel that there was probable cause to charge Pemberton. (dpa/NAN)
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