‘Pemberton got promoted before Laude murder’

MANILA, Philippines - At the time of his involvement in the killing of a Filipino transgender, US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton had already been promoted to corporal from private first class, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg clarified yesterday.

Goldberg said Pemberton’s promotion was part of an “administrative process” that began even before the soldier got involved in the killing of Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude last October. “That (promotion) had nothing to do with this case,” he added.

Laude’s camp earlier revealed receiving information on Pemberton’s promotion to corporal on Oct. 1.

Pemberton enlisted in the US Marine Corps in August 2013. An anti-tank missile man, he was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and was among 3,500 US troops who took part in a joint exercise with Filipino forces before Laude’s death on Oct. 11.