On October 11, 2014 Jennifer Laude, a Filipina transwoman, was found dead in Olongapo City. She was violently murdered by U.S. marine Joseph Scott-Pemberton. For his brutal crime, Pemberton was only found guilty of homicide and sentenced to a mere 10-year prison sentence.
On this day of September 7, 2020 President Rodrigo Duterte has granted Pemberton an early release serving only 5 years in jail and an absolute pardon which erases any criminal liability.
Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada (Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance – Ontario) and sister organizations under the Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians, the Philippine Women Centre of Ontario, and SIKLAB Ontario (Filipino workers rights group) strongly condemn this decision as a blatant disregard for Philippine laws and an outright failure of the Philippine Justice system.
The Philippine government’s shameless complacency to the dictates of the United States makes a complete mockery of Philippine democracy and sovereignty as a nation, and a grave injustice to the entire Filipino people within and outside of the Philippines.
The Philippines is upholding a colonial agreement with the U.S. known as the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that gives the U.S. complete jurisdiction of any U.S. marine personnel’s crimes against the Filipino people.
Jennifer Laude’s murder is the second reported criminal case involving a U.S. marine under the VFA and the EDCA.
U.S. military bases, like Pemberton’s former camp at Subic Bay Freeport, exist in the Philippines and personnel continue to rape and murder Filipino women and transwomen.
We stand in solidarity with the Laude family and the community organizations Kaisa Ka and Kilusan in fighting the ongoing onslaught of U.S. Imperialism in the Philippines.
JUSTICE FOR JENNIFER LAUDE!
KEEP PEMBERTON IN JAIL!
TRANS LIVES MATTER!
SCRAP THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT!
JUNK THE ENHANCED DEFENSE COOPERATION AGREEMENT)
STOP U.S. MILITARISM!
DOWN WITH U.S. IMPERIALISM!