Laude family to ask BI to declare Pemberton as ‘undesirable alien’

By AMANDA FERNANDEZ, GMA News

Published October 28, 2014 1:44pm

(Updated 2:46 p.m.) The family of slain Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude is set to file a motion before the Bureau of Immigration seeking to declare murder suspect US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton as an "undesirable alien."

Human rights lawyer Harry Roque Jr., counsel for the Laude family, announced this on Tuesday at a press conference in UP Diliman.

Roque stressed that Pemberton should be treated similarly as to how Laude's fiancé, German national Marc Sueselbeck, who is also currently facing an undesirability case before the Bureau of Immigration (BI), was also treated.

He added that the BI should also confiscate the passport of Pemberton, and have him appear at their premises — similar as to what have been done to Sueselbeck.

"If they cannot do this, I want them to explain to the family why they are not provided equal protection," Roque said.

The BI prevented Sueselbeck from leaving the country on Sunday due to a deportation case filed against him as a result of his climbing the perimeter fence of a facility inside Camp Aguinaldo on October 22.

Sueselbeck and the family of Laude wanted then to see Pemberton who is detained inside the camp.

'Humiliated'

Meanwhile, Sueselbeck admitted that he was "humiliated" after he was barred from leaving the country on Sunday.

"I was already given a very humiliating punishment already, I have already offered you respect, so what exactly should I do more? What do they expect from me?" he said.

However, he said he will face the case, and hope that he would not be permanently banned from returning to the Philippines

"Worst punishment they can do is to ban me permanently," he said, adding that a ban would be another "kick" to Laude.

For his part, Roque Jr. said: "Gusto niyang bumalik kasi dadalaw sa puntod... Ano ba naman tayo, pinaglalaban niya ay makabalik, gusto rin niyang dumalaw sa hearing.

Quoting Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, a television report said the BI has filed charges of undesirability against both Pemberton and Sueselbeck.

"...BI has filed charges of undesirability against both Sueselbeck and Pemberton," De Lima was quoted as saying in a report on GMA News' Unang Balita on Monday.

"As to Sueselbeck, he's now in BI watchlist. He will not be arrested, but will be given a copy of the charge sheet and will be prevented from leaving on account of such," she added. — KG/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: josephscottpemberton, jeffreylaude, jeffreylaudekilling, jenniferlaude