JSCh
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2011
- Messages
- 13,235
- Reaction score
- 2
- Country
- Location
U.S. rejects Manila's bid for custody of U.S. Marine accused of murder
MANILA Wed Dec 17, 2014 5:49am EST
1 of 2. Demonstrators display a banner while holding torches, seeking justice for murdered Filipino transgender Jeffrey Laude, who also goes by the name Jennifer, during a protest along a main street of Manila October 24, 2014.
(Reuters) - The United States embassy in Manila has turned down a request from Philippine authorities to hand over a Marine accused of the killing of a transgender Filipino, a move that could spark anti-American protest in the former U.S. colony.
The Marine, Joseph Scott Pemberton, who is being held at a U.S. facility at the main Philippine army base, was charged with the murder of Jeffrey Laude, who was found dead on Oct. 11 in a hotel in Olongapo City, northwest of the capital.
"The United States will retain custody of Pemberton as provided by the United States-Philippine Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)," the embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The United States has the right to retain custody of a suspect from the commission of the alleged offense until completion of all judicial proceedings."
Manila and Washington signed the Visiting Forces Agreement in 1998, to allow U.S. forces to hold military drills in the Philippines to test the readiness of the allies, and the pact sets legal rules on how to treat erring servicemen.
Cont... www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/17/us-philippines-usa-idUSKBN0JV11520141217
====================================================================
Hardly surprising considering the history of similar cases.
MANILA Wed Dec 17, 2014 5:49am EST
1 of 2. Demonstrators display a banner while holding torches, seeking justice for murdered Filipino transgender Jeffrey Laude, who also goes by the name Jennifer, during a protest along a main street of Manila October 24, 2014.
(Reuters) - The United States embassy in Manila has turned down a request from Philippine authorities to hand over a Marine accused of the killing of a transgender Filipino, a move that could spark anti-American protest in the former U.S. colony.
The Marine, Joseph Scott Pemberton, who is being held at a U.S. facility at the main Philippine army base, was charged with the murder of Jeffrey Laude, who was found dead on Oct. 11 in a hotel in Olongapo City, northwest of the capital.
"The United States will retain custody of Pemberton as provided by the United States-Philippine Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)," the embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The United States has the right to retain custody of a suspect from the commission of the alleged offense until completion of all judicial proceedings."
Manila and Washington signed the Visiting Forces Agreement in 1998, to allow U.S. forces to hold military drills in the Philippines to test the readiness of the allies, and the pact sets legal rules on how to treat erring servicemen.
Cont... www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/17/us-philippines-usa-idUSKBN0JV11520141217
====================================================================
Hardly surprising considering the history of similar cases.