The U.S. Marine who is the main suspect in the killing of a transgender Filipina will be under the custody of the United States despite protests, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The suspect identified as AJoseph Scott Pemberton is said to be from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and is still on the USS Peleliu warship  as a joint investigation is underway between the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Philippine National Police.

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The suspect allegedly killed a local transgender in Olongapo City named Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude, 26, who was found dead due to asphyxiation (strangling and drowning) shortly before midnight on Saturday at a hotel.

Based on the hotel log, Jennifer checked in an hour before she was found dead and was accompanied with a foreigner whom the witnesses described as someone who sported a "close-cropped" hair.

Two used condoms were found in the trash can inside the room and investigators noted that Jennifer's head had been pushed into the toilet, reports a Philippine news outlet called ABS CBN News.

Officials have revealed that Joseph is not the only suspect regarding the killing of Jennifer as three other marines are also being held on the said warship until investigators finalize and pinpoint who really murdered the local transgender.

However, a witness named Mark Clarence Gelviro, 22, Jennifer's companion during a night out at a certain bar called Ambyanz Disco bar, identified Joseph as the one Jennifer was with hours before the killing.

The marines were reportedly in the country for a joint military exercise between the U.S. Marines and the Philippine Marines that ended on October 10.

The commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III, is actively participating in the said investigation. He ordered all his men and all the five warships to remain in the country until the suspect is caught, reports spokesman Chuck Little.

The spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, Jen Psaki, also released a statement on Tuesday saying American officials will cooperate fully with the Philippine law enforcement authorities for the progress of the said investigation.

Meanwhile, transgender activists have demonstrated and criticized again the 1998 pact between the Philippines and the U.S. regarding American service members to be held under the U.S. custody while criminal proceedings are ongoing.

Olongapo City Police are said to be pushing for a murder case against the suspect. However, no other information has been made available to the public yet. 

TagsPFC Joseph Scott Pemberton, U.S. Marine, Filipina transgender