Laude counsel says ‘US spy’ on his trail

Lawyer Harry Roque. Photo by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Is an “American spy” stalking Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude’s lead lawyer?

Harry Roque believes so and he is concerned there may be others surveilling his witnesses.

The lawyer of the family of the transgender Filipino slain in Olongapo City a week ago believes he is being followed, likely in an attempt to “check what evidence I have” against Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton, the US Marine suspect in the killing.

“Since arriving in Olongapo on Wednesday, when we finished discussing the case with the [Laude] family and I started my own investigation, everywhere I went, there was an American man who was following me,” Roque told reporters in an interview.

Told in jest that the man might just be a fan, the lawyer who has handled high-profile cases joked: “He’s not a fan. He did not ask for a selfie.”

Roque described the man to be “buff” and sporting a military haircut.

“I went to the [Olongapo] fiscal’s office, the American was there. I went to the police station, the American was there. I went to the house of one witness, he was also there,” the lawyer said.

“Once I leave, I will see him there. That’s why I’m getting pissed…. He also talks to people I already talked to,” Roque siad.

He said this was why it was urgent that his three witnesses—all of whom identified Pemberton to be the last person seen with Laude before she was killed—be placed on with the Witness Protection Program.

“If the lawyer can be followed openly by an American, I’m sure they are already following the witnesses and they (witnesses) might be intimidated by their presence,” he said.

Sought for comment, US Embassy spokesman Kurt Hoyer said Roque’s story was “ridiculous and absolutely untrue.”