Interesting read that most dont know the twist to... The newspapers at the moment are having a field-day and giving many column inches to the Pemberton case. This is the American marine now charged with the murder of transgender Jeffrey Jennifer Laude at Subic Bay this last October. The current issue boils down to the matter of custody. Under a legally binding Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and USA governments the USA is quite entitled to keep their servicemen in USA custody in the Philippines. The family of Laude, transgender groups, as well as the Department of Justice (Secretary Leila De Lima is very vocal in this) and fueled by the media and opinion writers, want to see the VFA junked and the accused Pemberton held in custody under Philippines jurisdiction. On the other hand the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs recognises and supports the VFA as a legally binding international agreement. For his part the USA Ambassador is sticking by the VFA, promising to keep Pemberton in the Philippines and to make him fully available for the Philippines judicial process and hearings. I guess one issue to resolve will be where Pemberton will be held if he is found guilty. Unbeknown to many, and resulting in very few column inches in the newspapers over the last two years is the George Anikou slaying case. I wonder how many have heard of this case? Anikou was a US marine and husband of a US diplomat. He was stabbed to death by a group of four Filipinos inside the entrance to the Rockwell residential compound in Makati when he intervened and supported the entrance guards in a row involving the four. This situation was all captured on CCTV video,and posted on YouTube. The assailants, believe it or not, were captured as they tried to escape. And, believe it or not, the assailants who had connections in high places, are now free men. The judicial process has done its course. Two of the four were convicted of homicide but given probation,and not a day in jail. So much for the legal processes and justice here in the Philippines. (~¿~) JD
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 10:59:27 +0000
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