The family of Jennifer Laude, accompanied by their lawyer and supporters, tried to serve a subpoena to the primary suspect for her murder last Saturday, October 18.

Their group was blocked from going closer to the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu by concertina wires, concrete blocks, the police and a group of private security guards. As the rally drew closer, US Marines previously conducting training on the pier vanished into the bowels of the warship.

The lawyer left a copy of the summons attached to a barb of the concertina wire and declared the subpoena to have been duly served. Gabriela, Kafederasyon, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kadamay, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and other groups held a brief rally afterwards. It was the first rally inside the former naval facility after the US temporarily withdrew in 1991.

They rally was briefly interrupted when Olongapo mayor Rolen Paulino appeared and threatened to expel the protesters for calling his city a “haven for sex tourism”. In an interview after the event Julita Cabillan, mother of Jennifer, expressed anger over main suspect Pvt Joseph Scott Pemberton’s “cowardice” in refusing to face her.

She also criticized the American and Philippine governments for protecting the suspect instead of giving justice to the victim Jennifer.

Text and photos by RAYMUND B. VILLANUEVA

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