Family, friends remember Jeffrey Laude on last night of wake

(Updated 1 p.m.) Nearly two weeks since transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude was found dead in Olongapo City, family and friends relived their memories spent with the victim on the last night of the wake.

According to a report on GMA News' Unang Balita on Friday, relatives held a small program for Laude on Thursday night, where many could not hold back their emotions.

Laude's mother, Julita, expressed anger towards the suspect, US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, saying that she feels as if she's the one being drowned whenever she would fall asleep after the incident, the Unang Balita report said.

A separate report on GMA News TV's Balitanghali showed Julita in tears during the program, saying: "Hanggang ngayon, iniisip ko pa habang sinasakal niya 'yung anak ko o nilulublob, kung anong nasabi niya habang hirap na hirap siyang umayaw o gumawa ng paraan para maipagtanggol niya ang sarili niya."

 

 

Friends also asked the public to stop posting negative remarks about Laude on social media, saying they should extend some respect to what happened to the victim.

 

In an interview with GMA News, one of Laude's friends said, "Tigilan na nila yung pagkocomment ng pangit kasi kaming mga tunay na kaibigan niya, nasasaktan. kesyo baklang magnanakaw. Sa tagal ng pagsasama namin ni Jennifer, hindi, hindi siya nagnakaw."

 

"Nandiyan siya na kaibigan namin, na kapag kailangan namin, pwedeng lapitan," Laude's friend said. "Masakit para sa aming lahat."

 

Julita stayed beside the victim's remains throughout the night, spending the last few hours with Jennifer before the interment, scheduled at 2 p.m. Friday.

 

A mass will be held for Jennifer at 1 p.m., the Unang Balita report said.

 

"Gusto kong isulit 'yung naiiwan kong kaunting oras para sa kaniya," she said in an interview with GMA News, also sharing some memories with her child, like how Jennifer would reach for her cheek and refer to her as "Juling."

 

"'Yun 'yung madalas hinahanap ko. 'Yung bawat tawag niya kung nandoon na kami sa Bisaya ... Sasabihin niya sa akin, 'Ma, kahit anong mangyari, mahal na mahal kita,'" she said.

 

For his part, Jennifer's German fiancé, Marc Sueselbeck, said he's "very, very honored and very, very thankful for all the moments" he got to share with her. — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/RSJ, GMA News