|
 U.S. Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton is accused of
murdering Jeffrey Laude, who also goes by the name Jennifer, in
Olongapo City, about 50 km north of Manila.
Pemberton is under the custody of his superiors aboard USS Peleliu,
an amphibious assault ship, docked in Subic Bay, a former U.S. Navy
base next to Olongapo, northwest of Manila.
Left-wing lawmakers, activists and the LGBT community have called on
the government to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement if the
United States does not hand him over.
"Why do we need to abrogate the Visiting Forces Agreement?" Aquino
told reporters while in central island of Leyte to commemorate the
70th anniversary of General Douglas MacArthur landing, the start of
U.S. liberation of the Philippines in World War Two.
"I mean, name me any place that doesn't have a crime. And the sin of
one person should be reflective of the entire country? I don't think
so. What is important is there was a crime, we should gather all
evidence to prove the guilt and justice will be served."
Olongapo prosecutors have summoned Pemberton and four soldiers to
appear on Tuesday as part of a preliminary investigation.
In Washington last week, Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon press
secretary, said the U.S. military had "a great sense of gravity over
what happened" and was cooperating closely.
A former colony of the United States, the Philippines is the oldest
and closest security partner of Washington in the Asia-Pacific
region. The two sides in April signed a new 10-year security pact
that allows for a larger U.S. military presence in the country as it
struggles to raise its defense capabilities amid territorial
disputes with China.
[to top of second column]
|
Aquino said the defense and foreign ministries were working with the
U.S. Embassy in Manila to resolve the issue of Pemberton's custody.
He said the embassy was "making sure, based on the treaty again,
that he is available or the suspects are available for both
investigation in any and all judicial processes".
Under the agreement, the Philippines exercises jurisdiction over
such a crime.
The agreement was tested in 2005 when a U.S. Marine was accused of
raping a Filipina at Subic. The soldier was convicted in a
Philippine court but a higher court reversed the decision after the
woman recanted her story.
(Reporting By Manuel Mogato; Editing by Nick Macfie)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
