ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
A Philippine court has entered a not guilty plea in the case of a United States marine suspected of killing a Filipino transgender woman.
Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton had refused to enter any plea in connection with the murder, reported GMA News on Monday.
Pemberton was escorted by U.S. officials for his 9 a.m. (0100GMT) arraignment at the Court in Olongapo City, in the Central Luzon Region, which is located north of Manila, the nation's capital.
He left shortly after the arraignment, and headed back to his detention facility inside the Philippine army's headquarters in Manila, Camp Aguinaldo.
The pre-trial will start on Feb. 27, said lawyer Harry Roque, a legal counsel for the family of the victim.
The 19-year-old marine is the prime suspect in the killing of 26-year-old Jeffrey Laude, known as Jennifer, who was found dead at an Olongapo City motel on Oct. 11.
The case has been unfolding amid calls for the amendment of the controversial Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows the U.S. to retain custody of American service personnel accused of a crime until judicial proceedings are completed.
Pemberton is currently being held at a U.S. facility inside Camp Aguinaldo, where he is guarded by U.S. military personnel, despite the Philippine government asking the U.S. to waive custody over him.
The killing of Laude has also inflamed indignation over the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, a 10-year deal that allows the U.S. to increase its military presence in the Philippines.
Previous incidents involving U.S. personnel have fostered the belief that U.S. servicemen act with impunity towards the local population.
The agreement also allowed the U.S. to establish more than 20 "semi permanent" military bases in the Philippines -- a former U.S. colony.
