Laude kin deny accepting P21-M deal

MANILA, Philippines — The family of slay victim Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude on Monday denied having accepted a settlement offer and asked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to assign a new public prosecutor for the murder case against an American Marine.

In a letter filed at the Department of Justice, the victim's sister, Malou, said Olongapo City chief prosecutor Emilie de los Santos has not been cooperating with with their private counsels led by lawyer Harry Roque.

"Hindi namin maintindihan kung bakit ayaw pumayag ng kasalukuyang public prosecutor na makipagtulungan ang aming abogado sa pagtatanggol sa aming karapatan para matiyak ang hustisya sa pakamatay ni Jennifer," Malou said in the letter.

Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton has been charged with murder before the local court for the killing of Laude in a hotel room in October 2014.

Malou said that the family's counsels were left out by De los Santos in a plea bargaining to lower Pemberton's offense from murder to homicide.

The family also denied that they accepted the reported P21-million plea bargain with Pemberton's camp, saying it could have been De los Santos pushing for it it.

"Hindi namin maintindihan ang public prosecutor na sa usapin ng plea bargaining ay kailangang mag-plead sa lower offense," Malou said in the letter.

"Lalong hindi namin maintindihan na kahit sa case conference na pinatawag ng public prosecutor ay hindi man lamang papayagan ang aming abogado na i-represent kami," she added.

The family also invoked their constitutional right to choose their counsel.

"Wala na po bang ibang prosecutor ang Department of Justice na pwedeng tumulong sa amin? Na pwedeng makipag-tulungan sa aming abogado? O kayang tumanggap ng tulong at kooperasyon mula sa aming abogado?" Malou said.

RELATED: Pemberton trial proper starts Monday

The trial on the murder case commenced Monday where a hotel bellboy, Elias Gallamos, and Laude's friend, a certain "Barbie," took the witness stand.

The incident prompted questions over a friction in US-Philippines relations recently affirmed by the forging of a defense agreement allowing increased American forces' presence in the country.