Militants on Wednesday made a fresh call for the scrapping of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement following the United States' position not to surrender Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton, the Marine charged with murder for the killing of transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan made the call after US Ambassador Philip Goldberg claimed the US should have custody of Pemberton due to the VFA.
"In light of the US government’s continuing refusal to surrender Pemberton despite a standing warrant of arrest and a formal request by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Aquino government must terminate the VFA," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said.
Such termination will render inoperable other agreements such as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement, he added.
Earlier Wednesday, radio dzRH quoted Goldberg as saying "The VFA requires the custody to be with the US."
On Monday, the Olongapo City Prosecutor's Office filed a murder case against Pemberton for the Laude killing, and an arrest warrant was issued against him Tuesday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it served Pemberton's warrant of arrest at the US Embassy Tuesday night.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the Philippine government will move to gain sole custody over Pemberton.
Reyes said Goldberg's assertions show "the lopsidedness of the VFA."
"The US government’s interpretation of the VFA is that under any and all circumstances, the custody of an accused US serviceman will always remain with the US for the duration of the judicial proceedings. They point to a provision in the VFA where custody of an accused US soldier 'immediately resides' with the US upon request of the US. The US embassy belittles a provision in the VFA where the Philippine government may seek custody of a US solider especially in extraordinary cases. The VFA requires the US to merely take note of the request of the PH government," he said.
He added the VFA by design favors the US and is "an affront to our sovereignty and our entire legal system."
"The VFA shames the Philippines. The US embassy’s refusal to turn over Pemberton is an insult to our nation and our people," he said.
Reyes said President Benigno Aquino III "should at least have the backbone to stand up to the US in this matter of national importance."
"A Filipino was murdered. Our justice system is being undermined. Enough is enough," he said.
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