Binay condoles with Jennifer Laude’s family

Vice President Jejomar Binay condoles with the parents of Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, a transgender, who was allegedly killed by a US Marine at a local motel in Olongapo City last Oct. 11, 2014. In his visit Friday, Oct. 17, Binay said he hoped that the Laudes would have justice for the death of Jennifer. Allan Macatuno/INQUIRER

OLONGAPO CITY–Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday night visited the wake of Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude and told the family that he wanted them to have justice for her death.

Binay, accompanied by Mayor Rolen Paulino, arrived at the St. Martin’s Funeral Home in Barangay (village) East Tapinac here at about 9 p.m. He came here after engagements in two towns in Zambales province on Friday afternoon.

“I’m here because when I was in Cabangan town in Zambales, somebody told me that Jennifer is here so I decided to come here to offer my condolences,” Binay told reporters here.

Laude, a 26-year-old transgender Filipino, was found dead inside a bathroom of a local motel on October 11. Her family had filed a murder case against Private 1st Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, a member of the United States Marine Corps, whom witnesses identified as the person who was with Laude when they checked into the motel on Saturday night.

Although Binay did not talk about his position on the custody issue of the suspect, he said he would like justice served for Laude and her family.

Julita Laude, the victim’s mother, shared with Binay how she learned about the death of her child.

“I only found out that he was dead when I arrived here [on Tuesday]. I thought my children asked me to go to Olongapo from Leyte province because they wanted to surpise me [with a good news],” Mrs. Laude told Binay.

The Vice President stayed in the  wake for about 15 minutes.

Laude’s relatives and friends held a candlelight vigil to express their dismay at what they described as the slow pace of the case.

“Hindi kami papayag na wala itong patutunguhan (We will not let our efforts in fighting for justice go to waste),” Mrs. Laude said.

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