'WALA MUNANG GOODTIME' | US 7th Fleet indefinitely cancels liberty calls in PH

From InterAksyon (Nov 10): 'WALA MUNANG GOODTIME' | US 7th Fleet indefinitely cancels liberty calls in PH

The US 7th Fleet has indefinitely cancelled liberty port calls -- the free time ashore allowed military personnel on visiting ships -- in the Philippines following the murder of Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude, allegedly by an American Marine, the Navy Times reported.

Laude was founded dead in a hotel in Olongapo City where she had checked in with Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton the night of October 12.

The murder and Pemberton’s subsequent detention under American custody have renewed calls for the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the US.

The Navy Times report quoted Army Major David Eastburn, spokesman of the US Pacific Command, as saying said Admiral Samuel Locklear, head of the PACOM, had canceled liberty for all American servicemen in the Philippines.

The order “prompted 7th Fleet officials to look for ports elsewhere for ships where liberty was the sole purpose of their visit,” the report said.

Although “ships pulling in for a working port call, like repairs, maintenance, or refueling, are still a go, but sailors shouldn't plan any day trips to Manila. There is no timeline for liberty being restored,” it added.

Earlier, officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority said nine US Navy ships scheduled to dock at the former American naval base in Zambales had canceled their visits.

But the Navy Times quoted a 7th Fleet spokeswoman as saying “they haven't officially canceled any port visits,” and that these were “pending.”

The spokeswoman also said the oceanographic survey ship Mary Sears had docked in Subic Bay.

News reports have said the vessel docked for emergency repairs.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/98894/wala-munang-goodtime--us-7th-fleet-indefinitely-cancels-liberty-calls-in-ph