MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government asked Washington on Tuesday to turn over custody of a U.S. Marine charged in the October slaying of a Filipino transgender woman.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila sought custody of Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton after he was charged by Filipino prosecutors Monday in the killing of Jennifer Laude in Olongapo city, northwest of Manila. A regional trial court in Olongapo issued a warrant Tuesday for Pemberton’s arrest.
Laude, whose former name was Jeffrey, had apparently been strangled and drowned in a motel toilet bowl after Pemberton discovered she was a transgender woman. The two had checked into the motel after meeting in a disco bar, according to prosecutors.
The case has reignited a debate over custody of U.S. military personnel accused of local crimes. Leftist groups and a lawyer for Laude’s family have demanded that Pemberton be turned over to Philippine authorities and locked up in an ordinary jail.
Foreign Affairs Department spokesman Charles Jose said the Philippines was expecting the “full cooperation of the U.S. government in ensuring that justice is secured” for Laude.