CHIZ PRESSES DFA FOR PEMBERTON CUSTODY

Senator Chiz Escudero urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to seek custody of American Marine Scott Pemberton after the warrant of arrest for his alleged involvement in the October killing of a Filipino transgender in Olongapo City was served Tuesday night.

According to Escudero, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario had told a committee hearing in the past that the DFA had sent a note to the US Embassy indicating that the Philippine government shall take custody of Pemberton once a warrant of arrest was issued.

"If a warrant of arrest is issued, we will request the US to turn over the serviceman's custody to us," Del Rosario said during a hearing with the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Escudero said he wanted to make sure that DFA would remain true to its word now that the arrest warrant is already out.

DFA officials said notices have been sent to US Embassy officials transmitting the arrest order against Pemberton and the other one seeking for his custody.

Escudero said DFA Secretary Del Rosario should make public the US Embassy's reply and should stand firm to assert the government's power and authority over Pemberton since he committed a crime here in the country.

He also emphasized that following the turnover of Pemberton's custody to the Philippines, the US Marine must be detained in an ordinary cell like an ordinary criminal.

Esudero, however, said Pemberton should also be given a fair treatment, and not a VIP treatment, under Philippine laws in the same way Filipinos who committed crimes here are afforded due process.

"Some of our fellow Filipinos were oppressed abroad, why would we put a foreigner on a pedestal and give him special treatment more than the Filipinos in their own land?" Escudero asked.