Malacañang on Wednesday said the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) should not bar the Philippines from seeking custody of US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton who was ordered arrested by a local court over the killing of transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude months ago.

While admitting that the VFA has a provision stating that US servicemen shall be in US custody until all legal proceedings are over, Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda maintained that the government can “request” custody of Pemberton.

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