US marine accused of murder moved to Philippines military HQ
There is the desire for protection of everybody's rights: President Benigno Aquino
MANILA, Oct 22, 2014 (AFP) - A US Marine accused of murdering a transgender woman was moved to the Philippines military headquarters Wednesday, authorities said, following huge public pressure for him to be taken off an American warship.
The Philippine government said the transfer of Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton was in response to its demands to the United States, as it sought to assure angry critics that he would not receive special treatment.
"I don t think there is any shielding. There is the desire for protection of everybody s rights, from the victim to everybody who is accused," President Benigno Aquino told reporters shortly after Pemberton was moved.
Jennifer Laude, a 26-year-old transgender woman, was found lifeless on October 12 in a cheap hotel in the northern city of Olongapo half naked in a bathroom with strangle marks on her neck, according to police.
The cause of death was "asphyxia by drowning", police said.
Pemberton, who had just finished participating in US-Philippine military exercises near Olongapo, checked into the hotel with Laude and was the last person seen with her, police said.
Pemberton walked out of the hotel alone, police said, but was quickly detained by his US military superiors aboard the USS Peleliu after he was identified as the prime suspect.
Under a Visiting Forces Agreement, Filipino courts have jurisdiction over cases involving US soldiers accused of crimes committed in the Philippines.
But the agreement also allows suspects to remain in US custody, and the United States had kept Pemberton aboard the USS Peleliu as it remained docked at a pier near Olongapo
