Media barred from filming Pemberton quarters
MANILA - Even from across the street, journalists are no longer allowed to take footage of the United States-controlled JUSMAG facility inside Camp Aguinaldo, where US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton is said to be detained.
The facility is now named the Mutual Defense Board (MDB) and Security Engagement Board (SEB) facility, for use of American military personnel while talks are ongoing among the Mutual Defense Board members.
Pemberton was flown into the facility by a US helicopter from the vessel USS Peleliu in Subic Bay.
He is now guarded by fellow US Marines, and his detention there means that custody remains with the United States.
Journalists were filming outside the perimeter fence on Wednesday when Pemberton arrived, but were not allowed to film up close.
Now, Filipino United Nations peacekeepers who had just arrived from the Golan Heights are manning the perimeter, preventing the press from taking any more footage.
The gap between container vans has also been covered with a shelf by US Marines, to further prevent the media from getting a view of Pemberton's detention area.
New restrictions on the movement of the media are now also enforced inside Camp Aguinaldo.
They are told that they can only stay at the grandstand. Driver's licenses are now surrendered at the gate, and the media will be forced to leave camp premises by 5 pm.
This is the AFP's response to Wednesday's commotion, when the media covered the family and fiance of slain transgender woman Jennifer Laude as they stormed past the outer gates of the MDB-SEB facility to try and talk to Pemberton.
The Laudes have been prevented from having an audience with Pemberton since the killing took place.
Atty. Harry Roque, counsel to the Laudes, said they were also prevented from taking saliva and urine samples from Pemberton, which would be instrumental to the murder case.
General Arthur Ang berated the media for following the Laudes into the outer gate, saying everyone was in violation of camp rules.
A truckload of civil disturbance management officers with shields were then deployed to herd the media away and stop all reports in the area.
Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc also arrived at the scene, and scolded Jennifer's sister, Marilou Laude, who had crossed the fence.
Cabunoc told the Laudes - who by that time had been asking to speak to any military officer - that they were trespassing and could be jailed.
On Thursday, the AFP announced that it would file a complaint against Jennifer Laude's German fiance Marc Sueselbeck, a foreigner who entered a military camp without permission.
Aside from that, Sueselbeck also shoved aside a Philippine soldier in his attempt to approach Pemberton's room just meters away.
The complaint will be filed before the German Embassy and the Bureau of Immigration.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
