There are protests in the Philippines after a transgender person was found dead in a motel and the person in custody is a U.S. Marine, who may have ties to New England.
Activists are demanding that the U.S. hand over that Marine accused in the murder to Philippine authorities.
Jeffrey Laude, 26 who also goes by Jennifer, was found dead in a motel over the weekend.
She had apparently been strangled and drowned. People are calling Laude's death a hate crime.
Police have identified the Marine as Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton and NBC Rhode Island affiliate WJAR says he is from New Bedford, Massachusetts, and is being held on a U.S. warship.
Witnesses told authorities laude met Pemberton at a bar, and they later checked into that motel where laude was killed.
"We regret that this thing happened,” Gen. Gregorio Catapang said. “At the end of the day, he [Laude] is a Filipino, we have to protect his rights, we have to fight for his rights and we have to give justice for his untimely death."
A murder complaint is expected to be filed Wednesday by prosecutors.
About 3,000 U.S. Marines and Navy sailors concluded two weeks of military exercises with Filipino counterparts last Friday and were to leave the Philippines this week.
