Group calls for prosecution of US marine in transgender woman's death

Says American suspect should be detained, tried in the Philippines.

Manila:  A women's group on Monday called on the Philippine government to ensure that the US Marine who was linked to the killing of a transgender woman in Olongapo City on Saturday will face trial in the country.

"The Philippine government should intervene and mobilize Philippine authorities to find and arrest the perpetrator," said Emmi de Jesus of the women's group Gabriela. "We demand that the perpetrator should be detained and tried in the country."

Media reports on Sunday tagged a US Marine as a suspect in the killing of a transgender woman in Olongapo City on Saturday night.

American troops are in the Philippines for joint military exercises dubbed the "Amphibious Landing Exercise 2015".

A report from the US Marine Corps Times on Monday said the soldier is being held onboard the US warship USS Peleliu.

The Philippine National Police identified the victim as Jeffrey Laude, 26, or "Jennifer," a resident of Olongapo City.

A witness told the police that the victim met the suspect, who was described as a foreign male sporting a "marine haircut," in a disco bar on Saturday night.

The body of the victim was later discovered inside a hotel room.

Police described the victim "with his head leaning on the toilet bowl, naked and his lower body partially covered with blanket."

"There was a visible mark of injuries on the victim's neck, his tongue (hanging out) and his hair was in disarray," the police report said.

In a statement, the US embassy said a US Marine has been identified as a possible suspect in the killing.

"[The] United States will continue to fully cooperate with Philippine law enforcement authorities in every aspect of the investigation," the embassy statement said.

Philippine Defense department spokesman Peter Paul Galvez told reporters on Monday that the US military has already relayed that an order has been given "to put on hold the departure of the [US] ships pending an investigation." The ships are currently docked in Subic Bay, a former US naval base north of Manila.

"We have to wait for the result of the police investigation," Galvez said.

Source: ucanews.com