Iginiit kahapon ng mga kongresista mula sa oposisyon na dapat na mapasa-Pilipinas ang kostudiya kay United States (US) Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, sinabing ang kabiguan nito ay kasing kahulugan ng pagsuko sa soberanya ng bansa.

Sinabi ni dating Justice Secretary at ngayon ay 1-BAP Party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III na dapat na igiit ng gobyerno ang kostudiya kay Pemberton, na kinasuhan ng murder sa pagpatay sa Pinay transgender na si Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude sa Olongapo City nitong weekend.

“Our government should insist on the custody of the suspect in accordance with the provision of the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement) and EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement). To do otherwise would constitute surrender of our sovereignty,” aniya.

Duda naman si Gabriela Partylist Rep. Luzviminda “Luz” Ilagan na makukuha ng Pilipinas ang kostudiya sa sundalo.

“I am not confident of taking him (Pemberton) in our custody. Based on the Nicole experience, the Philippine government is held hostage to the lopsided and unjust provisions of the VFA,” pagkukumpara ni Ilagan, tinukoy ang kaso ng panggagahasa ng sundalong si Daniel Smith sa isang dalaga sa tinaguriang Subic rape case noong 2005.

Sinegundahan naman nina Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio at Akbayan Party-list Rep. Walden Bello ang posisyon ni Ilagan, sinabing lagi na lang magpapaubaya ang Pilipinas sa anumang desisyon ng Amerika dahil sa VFA.

Kaugnay nito, nanawagan naman si Iligan City Bishop Elenito Galido, chairman ng Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Culture (CBCP-ECC) na katarungan at hindi panghuhusga ang dapat na ipagkaloob sa 26 anyos na si Laude.

“Hindi ba nakita na nila ‘yung gumawa noon? It’s a crime of course. Killing another person is a crime. Regardless, whatever his or her orientation, transgender ba siya o normal gender pa siya. We do not discriminate anybody, the mere fact is that there was a crime. And sabi nga if there is a crime, we seek for justice. So tama ‘yung sinasabi ng ina, we are asking for justice. We do not condemn, we do not judge or anything. We are seeking for justice,” sinabi ni Galido sa panayam ng Radio Veritas. - Charissa M. Luci

at Mary Ann Santiago