Jennifer’s German fiancé seeks voluntary deportation

German Marc Sueselbeck (2nd R). AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Barred from leaving Manila until he faces immigration proceedings, the German fiancé of slain transgender Filipino woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude on Tuesday filed a motion for voluntary deportation, fearing he would lose his job in an accounting firm in Germany.

Marc Sueselbeck told the Bureau of Immigration that he needed to return to Germany by Nov. 3, the ultimatum his employer had given for him to go back to work after weeks of absence.

The motion filed by a legal team led by Harry Roque said that Sueselbeck wanted to defend himself from charges by Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, but that the German was now “seeking voluntary deportation the soonest time possible so he can attend to his only source of livelihood.”

The motion asked that his passport be returned and that he be removed from the bureau’s watch list, where he was included on an undesirability charge for scaling, along with Laude’s sister Marilou, the fence at Camp Aguinaldo on Oct. 22, to check if the suspect in the killing, US Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton, was detained there.

Immigration authorities stopped Sueselbeck from boarding a Malaysian Airlines flight out of the country on Sunday and confiscated his passport.

Jinggoy: Show some compassion

In the pleading, Sueselbeck requested that he be allowed to depart not later than Nov. 1, saying that he risked losing his job and paying fines for failing to fulfill his employment contract.

Asked about Sueselbeck’s legal move, De Lima said she would leave it up to Immigration Commissioner Sigfried Mison. “Let’s just wait for the commissioner’s action,” she told reporters on Tuesday.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday came to the defense of Sueselbeck, saying the actions of the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration against the German were “absurd.”

He said in a statement that while Sueselbeck displayed inappropriate conduct, filing a case against him, which could make him lose his job, and having him blacklisted “seem too much.”

“I believe that we must show some compassion and sensitivity for a person who’s grieving and frustrated over the developments in Laude’s case. After all he apologized publicly for what he did,” the senator said.

Instead of going after Sueselbeck, authorities should devote their time and energy going after Laude’s killer, said Estrada.

“I believe the authorities should focus on the real of issue of the murder of one of our kababayan and that officials should run after the perpetrator of this gruesome crime and render justice to the victim and the family,” he said.