Santiago invites transgender's slay 'witnesses' to Senate hearing

MANILA, Philippines - Two witnesses in the controversial killing of transgender Jennifer Laude have been invited to the Senate inquiry set by Senate foreign relations committee chairperson Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Wednesday.

Santiago has asked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to allow the two witnesses identified as Mark Clarence Gelviro a.k.a. “Barbie” and Elias Galamos to attend the hearing.

The two witnesses are now under the DOJ's Witness Protection Program.

Gelviro allegedly US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton as the last person seen alive with Laude while Elias Galamos is an employee of the Celzone Lodge, where the victim was found dead.

In a letter, Santiago “urgently” requested permission to allow the two witnesses to testify at the hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations committee at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Santiago has set the public hearing at the committee room 3 regarding the case of Laude.

“Their testimonies will be absolutely essential for the Senate to carry out the mandate to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation,” said Santiago, who expects De Lima to cooperate and allow the witnesses to attend the hearing.

The Senate committee is also expected to tackle certain provisions of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the United States and the Philippines, which has provisions on criminal activities possibly involving American or Filipino soldiers who participated in military exercises.