UP activist-lawyer to represent family of slain transgender

MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Harry Roque Jr., known for his high-profile cases and tenure at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, was chosen to become counsel for the family of slain transgender Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude.

"Accepted engagement as lawyer for Laude family," Roque said on his Twitter account on Wednesday.

Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, a United States marine, is the suspect in the killing of Laude, whose body was found in the restroom of a Olongapo City lodge last weekend.

Roque, who serves as director of the UP Law Center Institute of International Legal Studies, is not new to cases covered by the Visiting Forces Agreement between the US and the Philippines.

In 2006, Roque was among the lawyers supporting accuser Suzette Nicolas in the rape lawsuit against US Marines Daniel Smith, Chad Carpentier, Dominic Duplantis and Keith Silkwood.

Roque had also questioned the VFA after Smith was transferred from a regular jail to the US Embassy. While the Supreme Court junked the bid, it urged the establishment of proper detention facilities for the US servicemen under Philippine authority.

Pemberton, who is in the custody of the US, is detained aboard US Navy vessel USS Peleliu currently docked at Subic Bay and locked down for investigation.

The killing incident triggered fresh calls to toss the VFA and hand over the suspect to local authorities.

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