Marine accused in Philippine killing tests US ties

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Marine accused in Philippine killing tests US ties
By JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press | October 19, 2014 | Updated: October 20, 2014 12:18am

OLONGAPO, Philippines (AP) — Inside a funeral parlor, a Filipino mother sits and weeps next to a coffin containing the body of her daughter and demands answers. On a hulking American assault ship moored at a nearby port sits a man who might have them — a U.S. Marine authorities suspect in the brutal slaying at a cheap hotel more than a week ago.

"We don't eat without praying first. We don't sleep without saying a prayer. Where were you when this happened?" Julita Laude beseeched God. "She had so many dreams and that killer destroyed them all."

U.S. authorities are cooperating in the investigation, and have ordered the ship to stay at the Subic Bay Freeport, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Manila, until it is completed.

The killing of Jennifer Laude, a 26-year-old transgender Filipino whose former name was Jeffrey, has sparked public anger in the Philippines and revived a debate over the U.S. military presence in a country seen by Washington as a major ally in Southeast Asia. The nations signed a new accord in April that allows greater U.S. military access to Philippine military camps, part of Washington's pivot back to Asia, where it wants to counter China's rising might.

Philippine police have identified the suspect as U.S. Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton. He was one of thousands of American and Philippine military personnel who took part in joint exercises earlier this month. He and other U.S. personnel were on leave in the city of Olongapo when Laude was found dead.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Marine-suspect-in-Philippine-killing-tests-US-ties-5833030.php

[brooklynite]

1. I thought the Navy pulled out of Subic decades ago...

[karynnj]

2. Looks like it was reopened in June 2012

Beginning in June 2012, the Philippine government said that the United States military could use the old base, as long as prior approval was granted by the Philippine government. This follows expanded military ties between the two nations, and an American pivot towards Asia.[16] This follows a Visiting Forces Agreement made in 1999, that saw annual visits of United States forces to conduct large scale exercises (known as Balikatan) between the two allies.[17] The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 20 November 2012 that Subic Bay will host US ships, Marines and aircraft on a semi-permanent basis which according to analysts will give the US a strategically important force posture for its shift in emphasis to the Pacific.[1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Naval_Base_Subic_Bay#Closure

As bad as this story is, it may be that the reopening helped the US be the first to respond to the
large amount of damage in the Philippines in November 2013. The US military was there very quickly to help the devastated area. http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121362

This really does explain why the SOFAs are wanted and why countries are reluctant to approve them. It sounds like the US has custody of him now, but he will be tried in Philippine court. It sounds like he will be jailed there if convicted.

[INdemo]

3. I thought so too

I was there twice during my Navy West Pac cruise days..
A smart thing to do in Olongapo was don't eat the food and don't mess with the women if one wanted to stay healthy.
Cant imagine how bad it is today; but for a young Marine to go berserk if he did, than I imagine it had a lot to do with embarrassment among his fellow Marines just knowing about the situation.

Just a thought