OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines – “Ganda” wanted to “find a place for herself.” And here – almost a decade after Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude left his home province of Leyte – is where he will spend the rest of eternity.
More than a hundred relatives and friends of Laude joined the burial yesterday of the slain Filipino transgender at the Heritage Memorial Park in Olongapo City.
Laude, 26, was brutally killed on Oct. 11, allegedly by US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton. He was found dead in the bathroom of a room in Celzone Lodge, his head pushed into the toilet.
The autopsy report showed that he died from drowning, due to the presence of water in his lungs. Various injuries were also found on his body, according to reports.
The incident has renewed calls to renegotiate or abrogate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which critics said is skewed in favor of US servicemen – like Pemberton – who are accused of committing criminal acts in the country.
But for Julita, Laude’s mother, the main issue is that her child is dead. And they want justice.
Hours before the burial, Laude’s remains were transferred from the St. Martin Funeral Homes – where his wake for more than one week was held – to St. Columban Parish for a Catholic requiem mass.
Among those in attendance were Laude’s family and friends, German boyfriend Marc Suselbeck, lawyer Harry Roque and members of different groups calling for justice over his death.
‘She wanted to find herself’
In an earlier interview with The STAR, Julita said Jeffrey – or Ganda, as they fondly call him – asked for permission to leave Leyte to “find herself” and, hopefully, someone who would complete him.
“That was her dream,” said Julita in Filipino. “I (agreed because) I wanted to give (Jeffrey) a chance. She kept on saying that if she stayed in Leyte, she will never be complete.”
The mother said they knew that her child was gay when he was still a child. But she said she never heard anyone taunt Jeffrey for his sexuality, describing how he really worked hard to earn for his family.
Jeffrey is the youngest of three children of Julita from her first marriage. He also had two siblings from his mother’s second husband, who – according to Julita – was also very close to her slain child.
“She really cared for us,” added Julita in Filipino.
Julita recalled the moment when she thought that her child already felt complete – it was when he met Suselbeck, who later promised to marry Ganda and take him to Germany.
“Initially, I told her to be careful… I asked her to save some love for herself,” she said, admitting that her worries were due to the fact that her child was a transgender.
Later, however, Julita said she realized how Suselbeck was in love with her child, and started to accept the relationship.
“She was very happy. And I was very proud,” she said, recalling when Jennifer introduced her fiancé to her family in Leyte last year.
“She hugged me, and then Marc hugged me,” said the grieving mother. “I knew, at that moment, that she already felt whole.”
Laude and Suselbeck were to be married in Thailand next year, according to some reports. The victim also applied for, but was denied, a visa to travel to Germany.
During the preliminary hearing of the case Tuesday, their lawyer Roque requested the investigating prosecutor to allow them to get the engagement ring of Laude as the family and Suselbeck wanted it to be buried with him.
Laude’s fiancé flew from Germany upon learning of his death. He arrived at the wake on Sunday night.
The family initially planned to cremate the remains of Laude and transport these to Leyte. However, they later decided to bury the victim in Olongapo City.
When The STAR talked to Laude’s mother on Tuesday, the decision on where he was to be buried had yet to be finalized. But at the time, Julita readily offered that it was here in the city where her child found happiness.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), on the other hand, has expressed grave concern over the brutal killing of Laude.
The CHR also called on the government to investigate the incident of violence and hold the perpetrators accountable.
CHR chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales said police authorities as well as the media should ensure the sensitive handling and reporting of the case, giving due respect to Laude’s chosen gender identity.
“The brutality which marked the killing of Laude brings to the fore the vulnerability of women and transpeople to violence and abuse in a society that is marked by patriarchy and homophobia,” Rosales said.
Rosales visited the wake yesterday to show solidarity with the family of Laude and all LGBTs (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders) that she said suffer from discrimination, stigma and violence.
“There is the unwillingness of the victim to file the complaint because of stigma and possible revictimization. There is the lack of support from immediate family who would rather have the victims suffer in silence rather than ‘coming out’ as an LGBT and a victim of a hate crime. There is the lack of trust and confidence in the legal system, the pervasive insensitivity of duty bearers and the general belief that justice will not be served in the end,” Rosales said.
She said the CHR has been conducting a parallel investigation of the killing from their regional office in San Fernando.
Meanwhile, various groups calling for justice for Laude gathered at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City in time with his funeral.
Reports said a cultural presentation and a candle lighting activity were held to call for justice for the slain transgender. – Rhodina Villanueva