Phiblex 16: Cruel Memorial to Jennifer’s Murder

The 31st edition of Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise—Phiblex, has just ended.  The annual war exercise of US and Philippine Marines and Navies was held, October 1-9.  The 2015 version, Phiblex 16, was joined by 1,000 US Marines from Okinawa, Japan and 1,000 Filipino sailors and marines, according to news on Phil. Navy website.  Japanese and Thai soldiers also took part in the war games, as reported by GMA News online.

Phiblex 15 of 2014 was joined by 5,000 American and Filipino marines and sailors. One of the US Marines is Joseph Scott Pemberton.  Phiblex 16, thus, rubs salt on the ever-open wound of continued trampling of Philippine sovereignty. This is an insulting reminiscence of the murder of Jennifer Laude by US Marine Lance Corporal Pemberton. 

The crime was committed in the evening of October 11, 2014.  The American marines and sailors were on liberty after Phiblex 15.  The US Navy ships that saw action in Phiblex 15 were berthed at former permanent, now “regular”, US Naval Base in Subic, Zambales. One of the ships was USS Peleliu where the US Marines unit of Pemberton was assigned.

The trial of Pemberton, on murder charge, at the RTC branch 74, Olongapo City, is through. Pemberton admitted he choked the transgender Filipina in “self-defense”.  Only a moron would believe him. The autopsy done on the body, which was bruised all-over and with broken neck, tells Jennifer was killed in a manner the US Marines are trained to do.   

But the court is yet to rule on Pemberton’s case. It is expected by December, one year since the trial

began. Paragraph 6, Article 5 on Criminal Jurisdiction, of the US-RP Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) states: if the judicial proceedings are not completed in one year, “the US is relieved of obligations…” The obligations include presenting the accused before the court and most of all, keeping custody of the accused.   The circuitous and verbose provisions of Article 5 confirm the US-RP VFA favors the United States. 

From the time he was charged until now, Pemberton is detained in the US facility inside Camp Aguinaldo, the Headquarters of the AFP.  He is guarded by US Marines.  A scratching insult to all Filipinos who dearly value sovereignty! 

Justice for Jennifer, demanded by Filipinos, is hanging in thin air. Though the evidences for murder charge are strong, Pemberton’s admission could likely lessen the penalty. The next struggle is on the location of Pemberton’s imprisonment. The Filipino people should fight for Philippine jurisdiction against US’s wielding its advantage under the one-sided VFA. 

The people should pursue the struggle for genuine sovereignty. The US has long trampled upon it.  The series of governments until the present have been subservient to US designs and interests. The government of Noynoy Aquino, instead of ending the VFA, even signed, with the US, a new basing arrangement for “rotating” US military forces in the country thus, perpetuating unequal relations with the US.

Justice for Jennifer and the Filipino people!

Fight for national sovereignty!