Aquino nixes appeals to scrap U.S.-Philippines VFA over murder case

US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton (left) and Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude

MANILA – Following the alleged murder of a Filipino transgender by an American serviceman, President Benigno Aquino has dismissed calls from various sectors to nullify the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States.

U.S. Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton has been charged with the murder of Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude on Sunday, October 12, at a hotel room in Olongapo City, after after joint military exercises were held between the U.S. and the Philippines.

Pemberton is currently in custody on board the USS Peleliu which is docked in Subic Bay, beside Olongapo. He is being monitored by his superiors.

Members of left-wing political parties, social activists and the lesbian gay bisexual transgender (LGBT) community appealed to the Aquino administration to put an end to the VFA if the U.S. does not hand Pemeberton over to Philippine authorities.

Aquino, however, has dismissed these calls, saying: “Why do we need to abrogate the Visiting Forces Agreement? 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.”

Aquino added that both the defence and foreign ministries were collaborating with the U.S. Embassy in Manila to bring the issue of Pemberton’s custody to resolution. He noted that 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”.

Prosecutors in the city of Olongapo have summoned Pemberton and four soldiers to come before the court on Tuesday as part of the preliminary investigative process.

Under the new 10-year VFA which was signed in April 2014, the Philippines has jurisdiction over such a crime.

Meanwhile, Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said last week from his post in Washington, D.C. that the U.S. military had “a great sense of gravity over what happened” and was cooperating closely with authorities.