U.S. denies Philippine request to turn over its Marine

The United States has denied Philippine government's request to turn over a U.S. Marine who allegedly murdered a Filipino transgender in October, according to a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Manila on Tuesday.

Citing the Visiting Forces Agreement between the two countries, the embassy said, "The United States has a right to retain custody of a suspect from the commission of the alleged offense until the completion of all judicial proceedings."

However, it assured the Philippine government that it will continue to cooperate with local authorities on the case.

The statement came after a regional trial court in northern Philippine city of Olongapo issued an arrest warrant for the suspect, private first class Joseph Scott Pemberton, on Tuesday.

The Philippine government formally requested the U.S. government through its embassy to turn over the suspect, but the request was denied.

Pemberton, 19, is accused of murdering Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude, 26, a Filipino transgender woman, on Oct. 21.

He was transferred from the USS Peleliu, where he was detained for several days, to Camp Aguinaldo, a Philippine military base located in Quezon City, but the custody remains with the U.S. government. Enditem