MANILA - A US Marine accused of killing a transgender sex worker has been summoned to appear in court Monday after police called for him to be charged with murder, the foreign department said.
Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton was ordered to appear at a hearing before the prosecutor of Olongapo city on October 20, foreign department spokesman Charles Jose said Friday.
The killing, the second major case in the Philippines in nine years involving a US serviceman, threatens to test the longstanding defence ties of between Manila and Washington.
"The US government will have to produce the suspect before the prosecutor's office on Monday," Jose told a news conference after Filipino officials delivered the subpoena to the US embassy in Manila.
The US embassy did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
Pemberton was detained by his superiors at a US warship docked at the northern port of Olongapo, two hours' drive from Manila, after witnesses told police he was the person last seen with the victim late Saturday.
The victim, Jeffrey Laude, who also went by the name Jennifer, was found dead in a hotel bathroom early Sunday, shortly after checking in with the suspect.
Photo Gallery:
Transgender woman allegedly murdered by US Marine in Philippines
- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/crime/...-transgender-murder-case#sthash.M10lZFAS.dpuf
Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton was ordered to appear at a hearing before the prosecutor of Olongapo city on October 20, foreign department spokesman Charles Jose said Friday.
The killing, the second major case in the Philippines in nine years involving a US serviceman, threatens to test the longstanding defence ties of between Manila and Washington.
"The US government will have to produce the suspect before the prosecutor's office on Monday," Jose told a news conference after Filipino officials delivered the subpoena to the US embassy in Manila.
The US embassy did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
Pemberton was detained by his superiors at a US warship docked at the northern port of Olongapo, two hours' drive from Manila, after witnesses told police he was the person last seen with the victim late Saturday.
The victim, Jeffrey Laude, who also went by the name Jennifer, was found dead in a hotel bathroom early Sunday, shortly after checking in with the suspect.
Photo Gallery:
Transgender woman allegedly murdered by US Marine in Philippines
- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/crime/...-transgender-murder-case#sthash.M10lZFAS.dpuf
