Laude family asks AFP to allow access to Pemberton cell

MANILA, Philippines - The lawyers of the family of the slain Jennifer Laude on Monday asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that their clients have access to the facility where United States Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton is detained.

 

In a letter to AFP chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr., lawyers Romel Bagares and Ethel Avisado said members of the Laude family want to see for themselves that Pemberton is indeed at the holding facility inside Camp Aguinaldo.

 

"As you know, other than reports in news media that Pfc. Pemberton has indeed been moved to the said facility, Jennifer’s family does not have any clear proof that he is in fact now being held at the MDB-SEB facility or that the person reported to have been placed in custody there is in fact the same PFC Pemberton who stands accused of killing the victim," the Laude legal counsels said.

 

Pemberton is the principal suspect in the killing of Jennifer inside a motel in Subic, Zambales.

 

The lawyers cited that the aggrieved party is entitled to have access and status of the case under international human rights law.

 

"Under the applicable principles of international human rights law, they are entitled to due recognition of victimhood and effective participation in the search for legal remedies to the injury they suffered as a result of the loss of their kin and loved one; applicable principles of international human rights law have considered this due recognition, by way of satisfaction, as embracing a host of entitlements accorded to victims of human rights violations, including access to the status and disposition of the case in question," they said.

 

Last week, the members of the Laude family, along with the victim's fiance, German Marc Sueselbeck, went to the AFP grounds and tried to enter the building where Pemberton was reportedly brought but was prevented by soldiers guarding the premises.