US soldier suspected after death of transgender person in the Philippines
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 14 October, 2014, 4:32am
UPDATED : Tuesday, 14 October, 2014, 4:32am
Agence France-Presse in Manila
Eduardo Oban said the US troops who took part in the joint military exercises had been ordered to remain in the country amid the investigation.
Philippine authorities are investigating whether a US serviceman took part in the killing of a transgender person after the two nations held joint military exercises.
The US embassy in Manila confirmed an American serviceman was "identified as a possible suspect" in Sunday's killing at a hotel in the northern city of Olongapo.
"The United States will continue to fully cooperate with Philippine law enforcement authorities in every aspect of the investigation," said the US embassy.
The body of Jeffrey Laude was found by hotel staff late on Sunday, less than an hour after the victim checked into a room with an unidentified male suspect.
The "foreigner" with Laude had blond, close-cropped hair, a medium build, and "casually" walked out of the hotel later without settling his bill, prompting hotel staff to check the room, police investigator Mary Ann Sadaba said.
They found Laude, who was dressed as a woman, lifeless on the bathroom floor with marks on the neck, she added.
Eduardo Oban, an adviser to Philippine President Benigno Aquino, said the US troops who took part in the September 29-October 10 exercises had been ordered to remain in the country amid the investigation.
About 3,500 US Marines and navy troops took part in the joint exercises held in several areas of the Philippines, including training sites near Olongapo.
