By Mark Vincent A. Durano 

Progressive youth groups urged the junking of agreements with the United States that allow their military sites and troops inside the country a decade since transwoman Jennifer Laude’s murder last October 10.

Laude was slain by Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton in Olongapo City after participating in the Amphibious Landing Exercise under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). 

Several candle-lighting protests were held across the country including in the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) - Manila and in the University of the Philippines (UP) - Diliman.

Meanwhile, UP Cinema screened the documentary ‘Call Her Ganda’ by Director PJ Raval about the slain transwoman at the UP Film Center.

The protesters decried that Jennifer Laude, and other victims, will only obtain justice only if the pacts with the US ended.

In her speech in TUP, Youth for Justice and Peace Spokesperson Ysabelle Briones urged the abolition of VFA and Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) which perpetuates violence against Filipinos.

“‘Yung in-expose na pagkamatay ni Jennifer Laude, ito po ‘yung ipinapawanagan natin—ang agarang pagbabasura ng gobyerno sa VFA at EDCA na siyang pahirap sa mamamayang Pilipino, na siyang nagko-cause ng pagtaas ng violence against women, children, at ng ating LGBT community (With what Jennifer Laude’s death exposed, we call the government for the urgent junking of VFA and EDCA that maltreats Filipinos, that cause the rise of violence against women, children, and our LGBT community),” she said.

Briones cited a research by the US Department of Defense (DOD) showing a rise in sexual assault cases every year by American soldiers.

However, DOD reported a decline of around 7,000 cases since 2021.

The spokesperson claimed that the culture that the American military brings to the Philippines through the agreements prompts assault and harassment against its citizens.

“Isa sila sa malaking booster sa sex industries dito sa Pilipinas na siyang resulta sa panggagahasa, sa pagpapapatay, at pag-iintrigue ng karahasan (They are one of the big boosters of sex industries in the Philippines that results to rape, death, and intriguing of violence),’ Briones added.

The protest denounced the agreements’ inability to hold US troops accountable for their crimes.

Last 2020, former President Rodrigo Duterte gave Pemberton ‘absolute pardon,’ squashing all of his criminal liabilities.

Pemberton was first found guilty of homicide with a sentence of 10 years but was freed four years earlier in light of the Good Conduct Time Allowance in 2020.

"Ang pagkakakulong ni Pemberton ay nangyari sa sama-samang pagkilos ng sambayanan, pero ang mabilis niya ring paglaya ay sumasalamin sa bulok na hustisya ng ating lipunan (Pemberton’s conviction happened due to the collective movement of the nation, but his quick freedom can be mirrored to the corrupt justice system of our society),” League of Filipino Students UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Chairperson Dexter Clemente stated in his speech at the Oblation Plaza.

He also mentioned that the Philippines remain as a neocolony of the US, trapped in the neoliberal and imperialist interests.

Through the said agreements, the chairperson slammed the ‘special treatment’ the US troops acquire by being protected by the Philippine government, having access to diplomatic relations, and impunity.

“Sa bawat kasunduan, sa bawat pagsubok sa ating soberanya, pinapakita ng ating estado kung sino ang tunay na pinaglilingkuran nito. Hindi ang taong bayan, kundi ang imperyalistang US (In every agreement, in every struggle in our sovereignty, the state shows who they truly serve. Not the Filipinos, but the imperialist US),” Clemente added.

The mobilizations also asserted that there are no safe spaces for women with the presence of US military troops and bases.

Laude was last seen with Pemberton after they met in Ambyanz Nightlife Bar in Olongapo City, but was found dead naked on the floor of a comfort room in Celzone Lodge with injuries on her neck.

Pemberton admitted he attacked the transwoman after knowing her identity while performing oral sex. 

Due to the VFA, Pemberton was allowed to remain under the custody of the US despite being trialed in the Philippines.

(Photo by Mark Vincent A. Durano/FEU Advocate)