Laude camp: Demands were for damages, not settlement

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of slain transgender Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude was not seeking for settlement but damages in the murder case against American Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton, the lead counsel for the prosecution said.

Lawyer Harry Roque said on Monday that the P200 million in actual, moral and exemplary damages previously asked from the defendant was not meant to be settled before the suspect is pronounced guilty by the Regional Trial Court.

"Ang nais po namin ay mabayaran ito ni Pemberton matapos na mapatunayan na siya ay nagkasala pero hindi po ito settlement," Roque said in an interview with dzMM.

He also denied that his clients are asking for P38 million and six United States visas in exchange for dropping the murder case.

"Imposible po 'yang prosesong 'yan dahil ito pong murder hindi po gaya ito ng rape nung kaso ni Nicole na kahit kailan ay puwede naman talagang magkaroon ng aregluhan," Roque said, referring to the sexual abuse case filed by a Suzette "Nicole" Nicolas against four US Marines in 2006.

Lance Corporal Daniel Smith was found guilty by the Makati Regional Trial Court in 2006. In 2009, Nicolas recanted her testimony leading to the acquittal of Smith.

Virgue Suarez, another lawyer of the Laude family, earlier denied claims of defense lawyer Rowena Flores on the new demands for money and visas.

"There is no truth to the alleged demand for US visas," Suarez said in a previous report.

Suarez added that Laude's mother Julita refused to demand payment for damages as no amount could compensate for her suffering. — Camille Diola