Police in the Philippines have filed a murder complaint against U.S. Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton in connection with the killing of Jennifer (Jeffrey) Laude, a 26-year-old transgender Filipino.
According to The Associated Press:
The criminal complaint was filed before government prosecutors, who would decide formal charges.
There was no immediate comment from the U.S. Embassy.
Here's a little background on the story: The Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper reported that last Saturday night, Laude checked into the Celzone Lodge hotel with a "foreigner" described as having a “white complexion, with marine-style cut of hair."
A witness saw Laude's companion leave the Celzone Lodge by himself "a few minutes" after he slipped into a hotel room with Laude:
Police said Elias Gallamos, one of the hotel’s room attendants, saw the suspect go out of the room, leaving the door ajar...
Police said Gallamos returned to the room at 11:45 p.m. and discovered Laude’s body, his head slumped in the toilet...
Filipinos demonstrated in front of the U.S. Embassy on Tuesday, angry that the U.S. military hasn't handed over Pemberton to Philippine law enforcement officials.
WITN-TV, a North Carolina television station, has this story on how many Filipinos believe the murder of Laude represents a much bigger problem:
