AFP chief on Olongapo slay: Quite a big mistake

MANILA, Philippines — Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang trusts that the United States will "seriously" handle the issue involving an American Marine suspected for the killing of a transgender in Olongapo City.

Catapang, however, believes American troops who were in the country for the United States-Philippines Amphibious Landing Exercises were given a little more freedom upon the conclusion of the event, opening the possibility for the incident.

"Ang alam ko noong commander ako noon [sa] Southern Division, may mga Balikatan tayo na kontrolado nila mga sundalo nila. Pero for this particular incident nagkaroon kasi ng kaunting liberty," Catapang said in a press conference aired on radio Tuesday. "Balikatan" is one of the annual joint exercises between the two countries.

"Sa kanila siguro kanya-kanya sila so there was nobody that was supervising them and nobody was cautioning them so it led to that unfortunate incident," he said.

Catapang advised that the US should adapt the Philippine military's slogan "Kawal disiplinado, bawal abusado, dapat asintado" to avoid what he called as "one big mistake."

"Nasa kamay na po ng mga Amerikano 'yan kasi behavior 'yan, kaya ang ine-emphasize ko sa mga sundalo ... Maybe they can adapt our slogan," he said.

"Wala namang organisasyon na hindi nagkakamali, pero this one is quite a big mistake. So the US Pacific Command will have to look into it very seriously, and I think they are looking into it very seriously," Catapang added.

Prior to his statement, Catapang met with Adm. Samuel Locklear, commander of the US Pacific Command, on Tuesday where the two officials discussed common interests as well as the slaying of Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude.

American Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton was identified as the suspect, and is in the US' custody and detained aboard the USS Peleliu amphibious assault ship currently docked at Subic Bay Freeport.

RELATED: Protesters demand Philippine custody of US Marine

Catapang refused to comment on the investigation and the case amid calls that Pemberton's custody be turned over to the Philippines.

"Labas na sa aming saklaw 'yan dahil that is a [Visiting Forces Agreement] matter," the top general said.

He said, however, that the Armed Forces are saddened by the "untimely death" of Laude. Locklear also expressed his regrets and ordered the Naval Criminal Investigation Service to conduct a "full investigation."

"Kami po ay nababahala at nasasaktan dahil kapwa Pilipino natin ang naging biktima, whether kung ano man ang kaurian," Catapang said.