Laude family, militants arrive at Olongapo Hall of Justice to demand justice

Published December 19, 2014 8:36am

(Updated 8:50 a.m.) The family of slain Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude arrived at the Olongapo City Hall of Justice early Friday for the arraignment of murder suspect US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton.

Relatives of Laude read a statement demanding that Laude's killer pay for the deed, GMA News TV's News TV Live reported.

Nasa Olongapo RTC na ang pamilya Laude para sa inaasahang arraignment ni Pemberton. #NewsTVLive pic.twitter.com/7qn7K7JSqP

— GMA News (@gmanews) December 19, 2014

The report quoted lawyer Virgie Suarez, the Laude family's legal counsel, as saying Pemberton was not on official duty when the crime occurred so he should be treated like any ordinary suspect, "not a VIP."

She added that they have long waited to personally face Pemberton.

This will be the first time the Laude family and Pemberton will face each other.

Earlier in October, the family asked the prosecution panel to allow the family to visit Pemberton in Camp Aguinaldo where he is currently detained.

However, Olongapo City chief prosecutor Emilie Fe Delos Santos just said, "There will come a time na makikita niyo rin sila. Tapusin lang natin lahat ng ebidensya. Huwag tayong magmadali at ilagay natin sa tama. Makikita niyo rin po siya."

Call for justice

Militants also arrived in the area to call for justice for Laude, who was found dead on the evening of October 11.

The militants also stressed no special treatment for Pemberton, who was charged with murder for Laude's killing.

A photo tweeted radio by radio dzBB's Manny Vargas showed the militants bringing streamers with messages demanding justice for Laude and victims of American soldiers.

The messages called for the scrapping of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement as well as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

Mga militanteng nagpoprotesta sa Olongapo City HoJ, giit ang pagbasura sa VFA at EDCA. | via @VargasMannysen pic.twitter.com/jdHdzrRgYK

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 19, 2014

However, police maintained their barricade at the hall of justice.

Mahigpit na nagbabarikada ang mga pulis sa lobby ng Olongapo City Hall of Justice. | via @divinereyes pic.twitter.com/SFUNL9QXpk

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 19, 2014

Pemberton is expected to be arraigned before the Olongapo City regional trial court Friday. He was brought to the area early Friday, GMA News' Rida Reyes reported earlier — Joel Locsin and Amanda Fernandez/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: josephscottpemberton, jenniferlaude, jeffreylaude