US Marine Joseph Pemberton is accused of murdering Jennifer Laude, a transgender woman from the Philippines. She was found dead in a hotel bathroom, on October 12. Ten days later, Pte First Class Joseph Pemberton was transferred to a Philippine army base, according to the US Marine Corps. The suspect did not show up at his initial court hearing, which was held on Tuesday. However, his presence was not mandatory. The woman’s relatives in the Philippines have called on the United States and requested that justice be properly done. The woman’s mother, Julita Laude declared: “We hope the Americans will bring him out. They’re coddling a worthless man”.
US Marine Pemberton was on leave in the port of Olongapo, on October 11. He met Jennifer Laude in a bar, after finishing his military exercises with the Philippine army. Jennifer’s initial name was Jeffrey. Witnesses say that Pemberton and Laude left together and checked into a hotel. The next day she was found dead. She had been strangled and her head was shoved into the toilet.
According to VFA – Visiting Forces Agreement, with the Philippines, the United States can retain custody of its military personnel wanted for crimes in the country. Pemberton skipped his hearing and his reason for doing so was the fact that he was still looking over the complaint brought against him. The chief prosecutor, Fe de los Santos said that Pemberton was ordered to be present at his next hearing, on October 27. He said: “The attendance of the Marine will serve as a very good assessment of the willingness of the US government to comply with the provisions of the Visiting Forces Agreement”.
On Tuesday evening, the US Marine said he had been transferred from the USS Peleliu ship to Camp Aguinaldo, at the military headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Quezon City. The US Marine would remain there under US monitoring. US Marine Pemberton declared that he was cooperating with the Philippine authorities, however he reminded everyone that everyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The US signed a 10 year deal with the Philippines, which allows US military to be present in a larger number in the Philippines. This way, they can have easier access to military bases, ports and airfields. The deal was signed because of the rising tension between China and the Philippines, over maritime territories.