The U.S. military transferred Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton from the brig of the San Diego-based USS Peleliu to a Philippine military compound on Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.
Pemberton is now being held in an air-conditioned van at Camp Aguinaldo, and guarded by U.S. Marines.
Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told The A.P.:
"They agreed to put him in a facility which will pass U.S. custodial standards. We're happy with this because he's a suspect in a crime that was committed in our country."
The Philippine Star reports with the completion of the transfer, the USS Peleliu was allowed to leave the Philippines at noon local time on Wednesday.
According to the Star, Pemberton is still in U.S. military custody:
Philippine officials said his transfer was a sign of Washington's cooperation in the murder case that posed a challenge to healthy US-Philippines relations and the Visiting Forces Agreement.
A statement from the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines echoes this:
"In accordance with the US-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the United States has a right to retain custody of a suspect from the commission of the alleged offense until completion of all judicial proceedings."
As Home Post reported last week, police in the Philippines filed a murder complaint against Pemberton in connection with the killing of Jennifer (Jeffrey) Laude, a 26-year-old transgender Filipino.
An autopsy concluded Laude died due to "asphyxiation by drowning."
Philippine media has reported witnesses saw Pemberton and Laude enter a hotel room together on the night of Oct. 11. Pemberton was seen leaving the room soon after. A hotel employee found Laude's body, slumped over the toilet, later that night.
