A Philippine court has ordered the arrest of an American marine charged with the murder of a transgender Filipino whom the soldier allegedly killed in a motel room after meeting her at a disco bar.

An Olongapo City court issued a warrant on Tuesday afternoon for the arrest of US Marine PFC Joseph Scott Pemberton. 

Like Us on Facebook

The murder of 26-year-old transgender Jennifer Laude drew protests around the US embassy in the Philippines, with the killing called a "hate crime."

Eye-witness accounts said the 19-year-old Pemberton had met Laude and another transgender woman at a bar in the seedy district of Olongapo City while on shore leave.

The three had checked into a motel, before the murder victim told her friend they should go before the marine found out she was transgender. "I think I killed a he-she," Pemberton allegedly told Marine Lance Corporal Jairn Michael Rose after coming back to their ship later that night.

Rose said Pemberton choked Laude with one arm until she stopped moving after he took off her clothes and discovered she was transgender.

Philippine prosecutors said there were "aggravating" conditions that convinced them there was probable cause to charge Pemberton with murder for Laude's killing. They noted treachery, abuse of superior strength and cruelty, which they said qualified the suspected crime as murder. 

Court officers said the victim did not stand a chance against Pemberton, to defend herself, as she was strangled from behind.

Philippine law bars those accused of murder from bail. But, based on a long-standing military agreement with the US, American defendants can remain in US custody. But, reports said Pemberton has been detained inside the national headquarters of the Philippine armed forces.

The Marine Private First Class have to appear in an Olongapo court for an arraignment -- the official reading of charges against him where the accused is expected to enter a plea.

TagsU.S. Marine, Murder, transgender