US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton.
PHOTO FROM PEMBERTON FACEBOOK ACCOUNT
MANILA, Philippine – US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton was served with an arrest warrant on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the murder of transgender Jennifer Laude.
The warrant for Pemberton’s arrest was issued by Olongapo City Regional Trial Court Branch 74 Judge Roline Ginez Jabalde.
On Monday, the Olongapo City Prosecutor’s Office released a 23-page resolution stating that the prosecution panel has found probable cause to indict Pemberton of murder, a nonbailable offense.
The resolution stated that the panel has found “aggravating circumstances” to indict Pemberton, which include “treachery, abuse of superior strength and cruelty.”
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Tuesday that the Philippines needed to obtain Pemberton’s custody in order to comply with the warrant issued by the Olongapo court.
“Right now, he’s (Pemberton) under joint custody. That was agreed upon so that he would be available for preliminary investigation proceedings. But now, with the issuance of warrant of arrest, we need to get his custody so we can present in court and comply with the warrant,” De Lima said in a text message sent to INQUIRER.net
On its part, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that it will formally seek the custody of Pemberton now that the arrest warrant has been served.
“We welcome the progress made so far on the case, and as we stated earlier, we will now formally seek custody over the accused PFC Joseph Scott Pemberton. In accordance with the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), we look forward to the full cooperation of the US government in ensuring that justice is secured for Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude,” the DFA said in a statement.
Pemberton is currently detained in a facility inside Camp Aguinaldo.
Last October 11, Laude checked-in at Celzone Lodge in Olongapo City with Pemberton. She was shortly found dead after Pemberton left the lodge.
Autopsy reports revealed that Laude drowned when her head was forced into the room’s toilet.
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