US ambassador assures Pemberton attends hearing

MANILA, Philippines - United States (US) Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg assured that US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton, suspect for killing Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude, will attend hearings of the case.

"We're working very closely with the Philippine side because we are sympathetic and understand the issues involved here and many of the political issues involved in the custody matter," Goldberg said in a television interview.

The US earlier refused to grant the Philippines' request for "formal legal custody" of Pemberton. The US stand of retaining custody is in accordance with the provisions of the Visiting Forces Agreement.

READ: US won’t waive custody

"The thing for people to understand is that we are going to cooperate fully with the judicial process. We will make the suspect available for the proper hearings," Goldberg added.

The US ambassador noted that they cooperating with the Philippine government in the investigation of Laude's case.

"We have shared evidence; we'll continue to do that. We work very cooperatively through the (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) and the (Philippine National Police)... That’s the VFA says we should do in addition to the way we would do this as friends and allies," Goldberg said.

Goldberg said that the case is being solved quickly because of the cooperation between his country and the Philippines. He noted that the suspect was identified and detained in Camp Aguinaldo and the witnesses were also identified.

The Philippine Law and US Code of Military Justice will be applied to Pemberton. It is important that the Philippines and the US have a unified interpretation of the VFA regarding the case, said Goldberg.

"Jurisdiction is probably exercised in that way through custody under the Philippine law when you’re dealing with a Filipino suspect but you're not dealing with a Filipino suspect. You're dealing with an American serviceman who is covered the Visiting Forces Agreement which is also part of the law," Goldberg said.

Goldberg reiterated that the US government will work cooperatively to assured that justice will be served and the rights of the accused will be protected.

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