(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Philippine National Police and local authorities have released the identity of the suspect in the killing of Jeffrey Laude, a transgender who was found dead last Saturday night at Celzone lodge in Olongapo City, Philippines.
Olongapo City Police Station 3 Commander, Chief Inspector Gil Arizo Domingo said the suspect was identified by a vital witness, Mark Clarence Gelviro (also known as Barbie) through a photo line-up of six US Marine personnel presented by the US Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
The suspect, Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, comes from the US Marine Corps, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, who arrived in Subic Bay aboard the USS Peleliu, according to Olongapo City Mayor Rolen C Paulino.
USS Peleliu and three other US warships are in Subic for a 10-day joint military exercise with the Philippine military.
With the identification of the suspect, Domingo said charges of murder are being readied by the police against Pemberton. Domingo also disclosed that the cause of death was asphyxia by drowning in the toilet bowl.
Paulino said Gelviro was with Pemberton and victim Laude when the two checked in at a cheap lodging house coming from Ambyanz Disco Bar after a brief conversation.
Laude's sister, Marilou, said that Gelviro earlier narrated to her that while at the lodging house, Laude asked Gelviro to leave the couple alone at Room 1 of the lodging house "before Pamberton learned that they were transgenders."
Another witness, Elias Galamos, a cashier at the Celzone Lodge, later saw Pemberton leave the room casually walking downstairs. Laude's lifeless body was found about 30 minutes later inside the comfort room, his head submerged in the toilet bowl.
Before the police released the identity of the suspect, Marilou said she did not understand why the name of the suspect was being withheld.
"We only know that they already have the identity of the suspect, because they (the police) said that suspects are already being held, but why are they not releasing the name (of the suspect)? They told us that suspects were being held, but under whose custody?," she asked.
However, Marilou said her family was thankful that the police had gotten hold of a CCTV footage from Ambyanz Disco Bar, from which, she said witness Gelvirio was able to pinpoint to the authorities who among the four US Marines at the bar went out with Laude to check in at a lodging house just across the street.
When asked if the police expect to get custody of the suspect, Domingo said "he will exert all effort to apply the law against the suspects. "
News reports, however, quoted Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Gregorio Catapang as saying that the United States will keep the custody of Pemberton. "Under the Visiting Forces Agreement, the custody of the Pemberton stays with the Americans," Catapang was quoted in the papers, which drew angry reaction from militant groups.
Akbayan Partylist Chairperson Riza Hontiveros condemns the brutal murder of Laude and urged the government to investigate the "hate crime with haste and due diligence."
A militant organization, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance), that opposes the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), an agreement between the United States and the Philippines, insists the Philippines should take custody of the suspect. It also accused the Philippine government of protecting the American interests and not its sovereignty.
Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes said "our government is fully committed to ensure that the rights of our citizens are properly protected," he added.
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