Judge asked to inhibit from Pemberton case

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines – Public prosecutors called on Regional Trial Court Branch 74 presiding judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde to inhibit herself from the murder trial of US Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton.

The six-man prosecution team led by Olongapo City Prosecutor Emilie Fe delos Santos filed a motion to inhibit, citing the relationship between Jabalde and the defense lawyer.

The prosecutors said Pemberton’s lawyer, Rowena Garcia-Flores, was a classmate of Jabalde at the San Beda law school in 1989.

The prosecution team said there were instances when she conducted a court proceeding without the public prosecutors when Pemberton appeared before the court for the first time on Dec. 19.

Pemberton is facing murder charges in the killing of Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude last October.

The prosecutors said that during the scheduled hearing last December, they found Jabalde, Flores and Pemberton inside the courtroom before they could join the proceedings.

In their 12-page motion, the public prosecutors said this gives an impression that a proceeding with respect to the case was being conducted without the presence of any public prosecutor.  Jabalde has not yet commented on the motion asking for her inhibition.

Flores had earlier admitted she and Jabalde were former classmates.  – With Edu Punay