PNoy not keen on going to Laude’s wake

President Benigno Aquino III isn't keen on dropping by the wake of slain Filipina transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude.

 

At a forum, Aquino said he found it "uncomfortable" trying to condole with people, who do not know him personally.

 

"In general, I don’t attend wakes of people I don’t know," the President said during the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) forum.

 

"How can I say that I really sympathize with their loss and have some relevant discussion with them on trying to assuage, ‘di ba, their loss at that point in time?" he added. 

 

Aquino further said that he did not want to be a "burden" to people at their time of grief.

 

The President nevertheless assured that the "tragedy" of Laude's killing "will be settled, in the sense that the guilty will be made to answer for the crime."

 

Laude was found dead on October 11 in an Olongapo City motel. The victim was apparently beaten up before being drowned in a toilet bowl.

 

A US Marine, identified as Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, is facing a murder complaint in connection with Laude's killing. 

 

Pemberton was transferred to the Philippine military headquarters earlier in the day. 

 

Last Friday, Vice President Jejomar Binay dropped by Laude's wake in Olongapo City to offer his condolences and assure the slain Filipina transgender's family that justice will be served. —NB, GMA News