Gabriela slams P21-M settlement offer in Laude murder case

Video by Cathy Miranda/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — A women’s group assailed on Tuesday the reported P21-million offer of the United States government to settle for P21 million the case of American Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton, the accused in the murder of transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude.

“Like the devil offering money in exchange for one’s soul, the US’ attempt to offer monetary settlement is an insult to the family and all patriotic Filipinos seeking justice for Jennifer Laude,” said Joms Salvador, Secretary General of Gabriela said during a rally at the US Embassy Tuesday.

Salvador said accused the US government of maneuvering the P21-million settlement as similar offers were also made to the family of “Nicole” during the Subic rape case in 2005.

Gabriela also slammed Chief Prosecutor Emilie Fe de los Santos, who according to the group was pushing for a settlement with the camp of Pemberton without consulting the family of Laude.

Salvador said De los Santos, who served as senior state prosecutor in the rape complaint against Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith on behalf of “Nicole” in 2006, also pushed for a settlement during those times.

Smith was later acquitted after the woman retracted her testimonies.

The victim’s family has said that it would not choose to settle because what they want was justice for Laude.

Gabriela also slammed President Benigno Aquino III for “keeping mum” on the Laude case.

“Aquino’s leadership is definitely breaking down in all directions because really, what kind of government chooses to sacrifice the lives and dignity of its citizens just so it could remain servile to its foreign master’s wishes?” Salvador said.

Gabriela said the Laude’s “fight is not just their own but that of Filipinos.”

“The struggle for justice will be a long drawn out one, with both the Philippine and US governments conniving to secure a way out for Pemberton,” Salvador said.

To the Laude family, the Gabriela official said, “All patriotic Filipinos are with them in fighting for justice.”

On Monday, US security escorts brought Pemberton, wearing handcuffs, into a heavily secured courtroom in Olongapo City, northwest of Manila, for the trial after an earlier plea-bargain negotiation with the family of the victim, Jennifer Laude, reportedly collapsed, lawyers for Laude’s family said.

Pemberton is charged with murder, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. The court registered a not guilty plea for him last month after he refused to enter a plea.

Government prosecutors expressed confidence they could win a conviction.

“At least we are now proceeding with (the) trial. Yesterday, the star witness Elias (hotel worker) was presented. Today, star witness “Barbie” (Jennifer Laude’s friend) will be presented. The thing is there is no plea bargaining,” said Virgie Suarez, lawyer for the Laude family.

Pemberton, an anti-tank missile operator from New Bedford, Massachusetts, is accused of strangling Laude and then drowning her in a hotel toilet last October after discovering she was a transgender woman.

Prosecutors say they checked into the hotel after meeting in a bar in a red-light district.

Pemberton was bar-hopping with fellow Marines at the time after participating in joint US-Philippine military exercises.

The case reignited a debate over custody of American military personnel accused of crimes in the Philippines.

The dispute was eased after Washington agreed to move Pemberton from a US warship to the Philippine military’s main camp in metropolitan Manila, where he is held under American custody but with an outer ring of Filipino guards.

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Video by Cathy Miranda/INQUIRER.net