Philippines: Mother of murdered trans woman vows to forgive charged US marine if he confesses
The mother of a murdered transgender woman has said she is willing to forgive the US marine accused of killing her daughter, but pledged to continue to fight for justice.
It comes after 26-year-old Jennifer Laude Sueselbeck was found strangled on last week, naked with her head in the toilet.
US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton – who was one of hundreds of US marines in the area for a training exercise – was formally charged of the woman’s murder.
According to GMA News, 51-year-old Julita Laude said she may forgive Pemberton, but only if he confesses his guilt.
“She had so many dreams and that killer destroyed them all,” she said.
“If he [Pemberton] will admit what he did to my child, we are ready to forgive him.”
She added that despite criticism, she would not give up the fight for justice.
The victim’s fiancé Marc Sueselbeck has confirmed that he would visit Olongapo to discuss with the family their next steps in funeral arrangements and finding justice for Laude.
Mr Sueselbeck had previously said he had been engaged to Laude since December 2012 and was trying to move her to his home country.
Politicians in the Philippines are pushing for a tougher anti-discrimination law following the incident, which has also stirred anti-US sentiment.
Senator Bam Aquino said: “We should impose heavier penalties so that these discriminatory and inhumane acts will be eradicated.”
He has pushed for a new bill entitled the Anti-Discrimination Act of 2014 which seeks to prohibit and penalise discrimination of any form, citing a rising number of hate crimes against LGBT people has risen in the past years.
