Palace backs Immigration move to bar Sueselbeck from leaving PHL

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) was correct in barring Marc Sueselbeck, German fiancé of slain transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude, from leaving the Philippines on Sunday, a Malacañang spokesman said Monday.

 

At a press briefing, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Immigration officials followed the proper process for foreign nationals facing charges in the country.

 

"As far as government is concerned, we are following a process that we have to abide to all foreign individuals," Lacierda told reporters.

 

He added that the Philippine government is in fact giving Sueselbeck "due process to answer the allegations against him."

 

"Hindi naman puwedeng paalisin na lang tapos malalaman na lang niya blacklisted siya. Pagbalik naman niya paano if he wants to grieve for the death of Jennifer Laude?" Lacierda said.

 

On Sunday, the BI prevented Sueselbeck from leaving the Philippines after he and Laude's sister climbed over a fence in Camp Aguinaldo.

 

Sueselbeck wanted to confront US Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton, the suspect in Laude's murder, who is being held at a facility there.

 

The German national was even shown pushing a Filipino soldier to get to Pemberton's detention facility.

 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has said it will take action over Sueselbeck's "misbehavior" and will write the German Embassy about it.

Sueselbeck has since apologized to Philippine authorities, saying he didn't mean to disrespect them. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News