AFP to investigate Camp Aguinaldo scene of Sueselbeck, Laude sister

By: Frances Mangosing - 10 years ago

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines will launch an investigation to find out if there were any lapses in the supposed breach of security by the fiance and the sister of slain Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude at Camp Aguinaldo grounds last Wednesday.

“We will investigate everything. If there are lapses by the ground commander, the military police battalion commander. I personally gave the instruction before Pemberton arrived because Brig. Gen. Arthur Ang (camp commander) was out that time,” AFP chief General Gregorio Catapang Jr. told reporters on Monday.

Technical Sergeant Mariano Pamittan was manning the gate of the Joint US Military Assistance Group at Camp Aguinaldo when Marc Sueselbeck and Marilou, the fiance and the sister of slain Laude, climbed the perimeter fence to get near the detention facility of Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, the US Marine suspected for the killing.

Pamittan was recognized by the military leadership on Monday’s flag-raising for exercising maximum tolerance and “professionalism and restraint” during the incident.

The incident caused the military leadership to file a complaint against Sueselbeck and wanted him deported. The German was supposed to leave on Sunday night but was declared an “undesirable alien” and was not allowed by authorities pending the legal matter to settle.

“We are investigating how they were able to get near the outer security, how the media were able to get through so it will not happen again,” Catapang said.

“Everybody is free to enter this camp provided you will behave properly. If you insult them and our guards and you shove them, that is insulting on our part and not being provoked it’s a big thing that’s why we honored [Pamittan],” he added.