The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it
has no role in the trial of US Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton saved to
secure the latter and if needed and ordered to, transfer the American prisoner
to another jail facility.
The AFP made this statement after noting that prosecutors
have already recommended that Pemberton be charged with murder in connection
with the death of transgender Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude last Oct. 11.
"The case of Pemberton is already in the hands of the
prosecutors and the courts that is trying it and the Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) and the Visiting Forces Commission," said AFP spokesman Col.
Restituto Padilla.
He added that their role for the moment is to secure the
suspect in their facility and to ensure that Pemberton is available for the
courts once schedule for trials have been made.
"Whatever we are told to perform, we will readily
comply. If he is asked to be placed in another facility and we are asked for
our assistance, we will readily extend that," he added.
As this develops, the US
"In accordance with the US-Philippine Visiting Forces
Agreement (VFA), the United States
has a right to retain custody of a suspect from the commission of the alleged
offense until the completion of all judicial proceedings," the US Embassy
in Manila
It added that "the United States
"The United
States
"We again express our deepest condolences to the family
and friends of the deceased," it added.
During investigation of the case, Pemberton was detained
aboard US warship USS
Peleliu in Subic Bay .
On Oct. 22, the suspect was flown from the USS Peleliu to
Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo "where he will be held under US
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=716897
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