Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton, the Marine charged with murder for the killing of transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude, should be in the United States' custody, the US envoy to Manila said Wednesday.
Radio dzRH quoted Ambassador Philip Goldberg as saying this is contained in the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement.
It 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.
Promotion
Meanwhile, Goldberg said there was nothing irregular about Pemberton's promotion to Lance Corporal from Private First Class.
He was quoted by dzRH as saying the promotion "has nothing to do with the case" and that it was already "on trail before the incident."
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police will remain on "wait and see" situation as far as serving the arrest warrant is concerned, radio dzBB's Tuesday Niu reported.
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AFP at PNP, nasa 'wait and see situation' ngayon kaugnay ng ipinalabas na warrant of arrest vs Pfc. Joseph Pemberton. | via @mamutuesdayniu
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