Olongapo cops go on alert for Pemberton

US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton. PHOTO FROM PEMBERTON FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines—The Olongapo City police force went on heightened alert on Thursday following reports that a US Marine accused of murdering a Filipino transgender woman would be presented to a local court on Friday.

Senior Supt. Pedrito de los Reyes, city police director, said he deployed at least 100 officers around the Olongapo City Hall of Justice in preparation for the possible appearance of US Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton at Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 74.

The court issued a warrant on Tuesday for the arrest of Pemberton, who is accused of murdering Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude in a motel here on the night of Oct. 11.

A police officer, who asked not to be identified as he was not authorized to talk to journalists, said the city police was informed that Pemberton would be taken out of his detention at the Joint US Military Assistance Group compound in Camp Aguinaldo, headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Quezon City, at 3:30 a.m. on Friday to be transported to Olongapo, 121 kilometers north of Manila.

It was initially unclear how Pemberton would be taken to Olongapo, but the US government used a helicopter to transfer the Marine from his warship, the USS Peleliu, which was docked on Subic Bay, to AFP headquarters on Oct. 15.

A source at Camp Aguinaldo, however, said Pemberton’s convoy left Camp Aguinaldo by land at about 2 a.m on Friday. They arrived at the Olongapo City Hall of Justice at about 4:30 a.m.

Lawyer Gerry Gruspe, RTC Branch 74 clerk of court, declined to confirm that Pemberton would be arraigned on Friday. With a report from Frances Mangosing.

Originally posted: 6:24 AM | Friday, December 19th, 2014