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| U.S. Marine accused in slaying in the Philippines, raising old tensions | U.S. Marine accused in slaying in the Philippines, raising old tensions |
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| A U.S. Marine accused of strangling and drowning a transgender Filipino in a motel-room toilet has triggered a public uproar in the Philippines, reviving sensitive memories of past incidents involving American servicemembers and undermining the Pentagon’s drive to expand its military presence in the region. | A U.S. Marine accused of strangling and drowning a transgender Filipino in a motel-room toilet has triggered a public uproar in the Philippines, reviving sensitive memories of past incidents involving American servicemembers and undermining the Pentagon’s drive to expand its military presence in the region. |
| Saturday’s killing of the 26-year-old Filipino, Jeffrey Laude, who dressed as a woman and called herself Jennifer, has emerged as a test of Washington’s push to send more troops to the southeast Asian country for joint exercises and temporary deployments. It comes just six months after President Obama visited Manila to sign a deal to expand military cooperation with the Philippines. | Saturday’s killing of the 26-year-old Filipino, Jeffrey Laude, who dressed as a woman and called herself Jennifer, has emerged as a test of Washington’s push to send more troops to the southeast Asian country for joint exercises and temporary deployments. It comes just six months after President Obama visited Manila to sign a deal to expand military cooperation with the Philippines. |
| The Philippine National Police have identified the suspect in the slaying as a Marine private first class, Joseph Scott Pemberton, who was among 3,500 U.S. sailors and Marines visiting the Philippines for a joint exercise. Marine officials have not confirmed Pemberton’s identity but said they are holding the suspect aboard the USS Peleliu, an amphibious assault ship docked in Subic Bay. | The Philippine National Police have identified the suspect in the slaying as a Marine private first class, Joseph Scott Pemberton, who was among 3,500 U.S. sailors and Marines visiting the Philippines for a joint exercise. Marine officials have not confirmed Pemberton’s identity but said they are holding the suspect aboard the USS Peleliu, an amphibious assault ship docked in Subic Bay. |
| According to Philippine authorities, Pemberton was on shore leave Saturday night in Olongapo City, about 50 miles northwest of Manila, when he befriended what he thought were two young Filipino women at a disco bar called Ambyanz. | According to Philippine authorities, Pemberton was on shore leave Saturday night in Olongapo City, about 50 miles northwest of Manila, when he befriended what he thought were two young Filipino women at a disco bar called Ambyanz. |
| Together, the trio checked into a motel, the Celzone Lodge. Shortly before midnight, Laude asked the other Filipino, who went by the name Barbie, to leave “before the foreigner could discover that both were gays and transgender,” according to a statement issued Wednesday by the Philippine National Police. | Together, the trio checked into a motel, the Celzone Lodge. Shortly before midnight, Laude asked the other Filipino, who went by the name Barbie, to leave “before the foreigner could discover that both were gays and transgender,” according to a statement issued Wednesday by the Philippine National Police. |
| Soon afterward, witnesses reported seeing the foreigner leave. A motel clerk inspected the room, thinking the occupants had left, and found Laude’s body slumped next to the toilet, according to police. | Soon afterward, witnesses reported seeing the foreigner leave. A motel clerk inspected the room, thinking the occupants had left, and found Laude’s body slumped next to the toilet, according to police. |
| Police said the motel clerk and Barbie both later identified Pemberton from a photo lineup. Philippine authorities said prosecutors were preparing to file charges against Pemberton, a move that will likely set off a battle over whether he will be handed over to the Philippines to face justice or remain in U.S. military custody. | Police said the motel clerk and Barbie both later identified Pemberton from a photo lineup. Philippine authorities said prosecutors were preparing to file charges against Pemberton, a move that will likely set off a battle over whether he will be handed over to the Philippines to face justice or remain in U.S. military custody. |
| Pemberton is from New Bedford, Mass., enlisted in the Marine Corps last year and now serves as an anti-tank missileman, according to the Marine Corps Times. He is a member of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. | Pemberton is from New Bedford, Mass., enlisted in the Marine Corps last year and now serves as an anti-tank missileman, according to the Marine Corps Times. He is a member of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. |
| Marine officials said they were fully cooperating with Philippine officials and noted that the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) was working on the case alongside local police. | Marine officials said they were fully cooperating with Philippine officials and noted that the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) was working on the case alongside local police. |
| Chuck Little, a spokesman for Marine Corps Forces Pacific, based in Hawaii, said he could not confirm the suspect’s identity until charges are filed. He said the NCIS was questioning other Marines as potential witnesses. Police in the Philippines said they have no other suspects. | Chuck Little, a spokesman for Marine Corps Forces Pacific, based in Hawaii, said he could not confirm the suspect’s identity until charges are filed. He said the NCIS was questioning other Marines as potential witnesses. Police in the Philippines said they have no other suspects. |
| In a reflection of the potential ramifications of the case, Adm. Samuel Locklear, the commander of all U.S. forces in the Pacific, ordered that three Navy warships docked at Subic Bay for the exercises remain in port until the investigation is completed, Navy and Marine officials said. The annual exercise, known as PHIBLEX, or Philippines-U.S. Amphibious Landing Exercise, began Sept. 29 and ended Saturday. | |
| “There’s a great sense of gravity over what happened,” said Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary. | |
| Locklear was in the Philippines Tuesday for previously scheduled talks with the chief of the Philippine armed forces, Gen. Gregorio Catapang. Afterward, Catapang said, “this will not affect our relationship with the United States,” but added that the victim “is still a Filipino and we have to fight for his rights and for justice.” | Locklear was in the Philippines Tuesday for previously scheduled talks with the chief of the Philippine armed forces, Gen. Gregorio Catapang. Afterward, Catapang said, “this will not affect our relationship with the United States,” but added that the victim “is still a Filipino and we have to fight for his rights and for justice.” |
| Under a longstanding agreement governing the rights of visiting U.S. servicemembers, the Philippines has the primary right to exercise jurisdiction in such criminal investigations and can put U.S. suspects on trial. The U.S. military, however, can keep the defendant in its custody as the case unfolds. | Under a longstanding agreement governing the rights of visiting U.S. servicemembers, the Philippines has the primary right to exercise jurisdiction in such criminal investigations and can put U.S. suspects on trial. The U.S. military, however, can keep the defendant in its custody as the case unfolds. |
| The agreement includes a provision under which the Philippines could request that the U.S. military voluntarily hand over custody of a defendant. Some Philippine officials said they expect to make such a request in Laude’s death. Little, the Marine spokesman and a spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Manila declined to say how the United States might respond. | The agreement includes a provision under which the Philippines could request that the U.S. military voluntarily hand over custody of a defendant. Some Philippine officials said they expect to make such a request in Laude’s death. Little, the Marine spokesman and a spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Manila declined to say how the United States might respond. |
| Laude’s slaying has ignited public protests and prompted some Philippine lawmakers to reassess the defense cooperation accord that was signed in April. The Philippine government has said it will stand by the deal. | Laude’s slaying has ignited public protests and prompted some Philippine lawmakers to reassess the defense cooperation accord that was signed in April. The Philippine government has said it will stand by the deal. |
| The murder investigation is drawing comparisons to a 2005 case in which another U.S. Marine, Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, was accused of raping a Filipino woman in a van near Subic Bay while three other Marines watched and cheered. | The murder investigation is drawing comparisons to a 2005 case in which another U.S. Marine, Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, was accused of raping a Filipino woman in a van near Subic Bay while three other Marines watched and cheered. |
| Smith was convicted in a Philippine court and originally sentenced to life. He was transferred to the custody of the U.S. Embassy in Manila and detained there until 2009, when his accuser recanted and his conviction was overturned. The outcome stirred suspicion among many Filipinos, in part because U.S. officials granted Smith’s accuser a visa to live in the United States after she changed her story. | Smith was convicted in a Philippine court and originally sentenced to life. He was transferred to the custody of the U.S. Embassy in Manila and detained there until 2009, when his accuser recanted and his conviction was overturned. The outcome stirred suspicion among many Filipinos, in part because U.S. officials granted Smith’s accuser a visa to live in the United States after she changed her story. |
| The Philippines — once a U.S. colony — served as a keystone of the U.S. military presence in Asia for most of the 20th century. | The Philippines — once a U.S. colony — served as a keystone of the U.S. military presence in Asia for most of the 20th century. |
| In 1992, however, the Philippines rejected a proposed defense treaty and kicked the U.S military out of its sprawling naval base in Subic Bay. The United States was also forced to abandon nearby Clark Air Base after a volcanic eruption rendered it unusable. | In 1992, however, the Philippines rejected a proposed defense treaty and kicked the U.S military out of its sprawling naval base in Subic Bay. The United States was also forced to abandon nearby Clark Air Base after a volcanic eruption rendered it unusable. |
| In recent years, both countries have sought to rebuild defense ties largely because of the rise of China, which has clashed with the Philippines over disputed territory in the energy-rich South China Sea. | In recent years, both countries have sought to rebuild defense ties largely because of the rise of China, which has clashed with the Philippines over disputed territory in the energy-rich South China Sea. |