Judge resets oral summation in Laude trial

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines – Judge Roline Ginez Jabalde moved to Thursday the oral summation of both the prosecution and the defense in the trial of US serviceman Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton.

Pemberton is accused of killing Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude here last year.

Private prosecutor Harry Roque said the case is now submitted for resolution, although the court granted the request of the Pemberton camp to reset the oral summation on Sept. 17.

At yesterday’s hearing, Roque said he asked defense lawyer Rowena Flores to confirm an article published in The STAR regarding the alleged P38 million and six US visas allegedly asked by the complainants in exchange for dropping the case against Pemberton.

He said he asked Flores to confirm if she was interviewed by The STAR and if she was, to reveal who told her that the Laudes asked for P38 million and six US visas.

Roque said Flores denied she was interviewed by The STAR or by any other media, and that the story has no basis.

Another Laude lawyer, Virgie Suarez, said that last week she had to issue statements and answer interviews regarding the settlement issue.

Suarez also dared Flores to reveal her source.

“Now it has been clarified and we’re thankful that there is no truth to the allegation,” Suarez said.

“The Laudes never entertained the idea of dropping the case for any amount,” she added.

Suarez said there were settlement issues that came up during the pre-trial period, but nothing came of it.

The story on the alleged P38 million and six US visas was based on an email dated Aug. 26 sent to The STAR by Flores.

In the email, Flores told The STAR: “Perhaps you can add that the Laude family asked for P21.6 million from us. Atty. Virgie Suarez sent the computation in her own handwriting. They changed their minds later and are now asking for P200 million in damages. A reliable source told me that one time, they also asked for six US visas and P38 million ($800,000) to drop the case.”

When asked to comment on the matter, Suarez, in a text message to The STAR, said: “The actual, moral and exemplary damages asked when Marilou Laude testified is P200 million. The P21 million was an initial computation of the damages made.”

“There is no truth to the demand for visas,” Suarez added.