Olongapo Transgender Killing: Hate Crime, et al

When transgender Jennifer (Jeffrey Laude) and now identified suspect PFC Joseph Scott Pemberton checked into an Olongapo motel minutes after a CCTV caught them with a group of 3 more foreigners and Jennifer’s friend, it took less than an hour to turn this “ liking” scene into one of frenzy and murder.

Heinous Crime

The offender must surely answer to and be prosecuted for this transgression. The killing of a transgender is now being labelled by local activists as a “hate” crime, pinpointing to the sexual orientation of Jennifer as the main issue, meaning Jennifer was killed because she was a transgender.
It still has to be proven that the offender acted out the crime exclusively because Jennifer was a transgender. Human acts involving two persons or more are mostly determined by agreed upon transactions or by unexpressed presumptions on all sides.

Personal Risks

Was there any arrangement between Jennifer and the group when they decided to get into the hotel? Had Jennifer’s being a transgender anything to do with her being killed? What made the criminal act in the fashion that the crime was executed? Numerous questions arise as this event unfolds. As someone who just got acquainted with a guy and then went with him into a bar and subsequently to a hotel, the risks associated with the act should have dawned on Jennifer.

VFA in Review

And because it is a heinous crime allegedly committed by an American Marine against a Philippine national in the Philippines, a thorough look at the provisions governing the Visiting Forces Agreement is now necessary. Most suggest that custody of suspect PFC Pemberton should immediately be taken by the Philippine government to facilitate swift due process. While these are being considered by all concerned, we all wait and hope for a judicious handling of the case. And yes, let justice be served.