Olongapo will be glad when trial is over

OLONGAPO CITY—The verdict that Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde will hand down here Tuesday on US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Pemberton is expected to bring a sigh of relief to a community that has been reeling from the impact of a sensational murder case.

Pemberton, who is accused of killing transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude in October last year, will be transported from the Jusmag compound in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, where he is detained, to this city to appear at Regional Trial Court Branch 74 here at 1 p.m.

US personnel will guard Pemberton, to be joined by the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines will be there to assist only and comply with the court orders that will be issued,” said AFP spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla.

Senior Supt. Pedrito de los Reyes, city police director, said the police would be on heightened alert during the promulgation of sentence.

Tess Mallari, 55, a fish vendor, said she was hoping that after the court hands down its verdict, vendors like her would be able to do business normally.

“We’re happy it’s going to be over now because since the trial began [in March], we were not spared from the inconvenience it caused. We’re not allowed to sell in front of the Justice Hall,” Mallari said.

Mayor Rolen Paulino earlier said residents and businessmen were looking forward to the trial’s conclusion.

The lawyers of the Laude family were confident that Pemberton would be convicted of murder.

“There is no other way to serve justice but through Pemberton’s conviction,” Virgie Suarez, one of the lawyers of the Laude family, said. Allan Macatuno, Inquirer Central Luzon, and Julie M. Aurelio