(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Philippines will put a US Marine on trial for killing a transgender Filipina outside a former US Navy base.
Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, who did not show up at the hearing, failed to answer a murder complaint filed by police yesterday, the deadline set by prosecutors.
Pemberton skipped the prosecutor's preliminary investigation in Olongapo City, north of Manila, but his lawyer, Rowena Garcia-Flores, said that any planned murder charge should be reduced to homicide, or killing without intent.
"Do not teach us what to do," Olongapo chief prosecutor Emelie Fe delos Santos told Pemberton's lawyer, a conversation carried live on TV. "We will base our resolution on the evidence that we've gathered. We should respect the process."
Pemberton has waived his right to answer the charges against him with his failure to submit counter affidavit, Delos Santos said.
Delos Santos said prosecutors would inspect the crime scene on November 5 and will go on with its task of determining probable cause.
A transgender Filipina was found dead on October 11 inside a hotel toilet in Olongapo City. Pemberton was named a suspect. He is detained at a US facility at the Philippine army base in Manila.
The crime has added to pressure on the government of President Benigno Aquino to renegotiate the US-Philippine Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), testing the two allies' security relations as they face growing tensions in the South China Sea.
"The VFA allows the US military to act in wanton disregard for Philippine sovereignty ... and violates the human rights and dignity of the Filipino people," said Congressman Walden Bello of Akbayan Party.
Bello filed a joint resolution in the lower house of Congress yesterday seeking to terminate the treaty because it "has not served the interests of the Philippines".
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