Slain transgender's mom seeks help from Aquino

MANILA, Philippines - The mother of slain Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude is appealing to President Benigno Aquino III for help as their lawyer lambasted the supposedly slow government action on the case.

"Sana kaming mahihirap, 'wag kaming baliwalain. May karapatan din kaming mag-reklamo," Julita Laude said in a televised press conference in Olongapo City on Thursday. "Sana tulungan niya kami. Kasi kung ganoon lang din na walang mangyayari, para lang din kaming itinapon."

"Naghahanap kami ng hustisya... Sana maawa siya, tulungan niya kami. Sana man lang may aksyon o umusad itong aming nirereklamo para may kabuluhan din itong ipinaglalaban namin," she added.

Represented by lawyer Harry Roque, the Laude family has filed a murder complaint against United States Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, who is now being held onboard the USS Peleliu.

Roque said it is now up to the government to make sure that justice will be served. But since the filing of charges against Pemberton, Roque said nobody from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) Commission approached them to discuss their next steps.

"Bakit po hanggang ngayon, ang DFA, ang VFA Commission hindi man lang nagdadaan dito at nagpapakita sa mga biktima? Kinakailangan pa ba nilang maglupasay?" Roque asked.

"Ni pakikiramay wala. Ni haniho, wala kaming narinig. Ni bisita wala," he added.

Roque and the elder Laude said they will personally give the murder complaint to Pemberton if the government fails to do so.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said the DFA has met with the Department of Justice to discuss the case.

"The Philippine government is working closely with the US government to ensure that the ends of justice will be served," Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a televised press briefing.

Philippines must take custody

Roque also criticized Philippine authorities for letting the US to take custody of Pemberton. He said the DFA and the VFA should have made a move to take custody when the suspect was identified by the police.

He cited a provision of the VFA, which states that "the custody of any United States personnel... shall immediately reside with United States military authorities, if they so request, from the commission of the offense until completion of all judicial proceedings."

"Natutulog po sa pansitan ang mga awtoridad natin. Hinayaan po na ang pagkatao nitong si Pemberton ay manatili sa mga Amerikano samantalang sa kasunduang pinasok natin mismo, kinakailangang mag-request ang mga Amerikano."

"At ang assumption po, dahil kailangang mag-request sila, hawak natin (ang custody) as soon as malaman natin ang identity ni Pemberton," Roque added.