PEMBERTON CUSTODY

US rejects
PH demand

After pledging to cooperate with the Philippines in the prosecution of a US Marine accused of murdering a Filipino transgender woman, the United States on Wednesday decided to play hardball and rejected Manila’s demand for the custody of the serviceman and his transfer to a local jail.

PH demands custody of Pemberton

Murder raps filed against US Marine in Laude slay

HEADLINES

Bilibid VIPs
tipped off on raid

Prison guards helped hide the quarters of so-called Very Important Prisoners and misled agents of the National Bureau of Investigation, who swooped down on New Bilibid Prison on Monday to look for evidence that would link them to the illegal drug trade, according to an NBI official.

Guns of Very Important Prisoners alarm Aquino

Drug lords rule New Bilibid Prison

HEADLINES

Historic breakthru
in US-Cuba ties

The United States and Cuba made a historic breakthrough in their Cold War stand-off Wednesday, moving to revive diplomatic ties and launch measures to ease a five-decade US trade embargo.

Obama: US re-establishing relations with Cuba

Key elements of US policy shift toward Cuba

US co-opted Cuba's hip-hop scene to spark change

HEADLINES

ESTRADA PLUNDER CASE

3 justices’ quit
bid junked

Finish what you have started. The Sandiganbayan on Wednesday turned down the request of three of their colleagues to back out of the plunder and graft cases of detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, saying the reasons the three raised were “not compelling” to justify their inhibition.

3 Sandiganbayan justices quit cases vs Jinggoy Estrada

Court backs out of Jinggoy Estrada cases

HEADLINES

DAY 3

Simbang Gabi
at the Gesu

The countdown to Christmas Eve has begun with the distinct Filipino tradition of Simbang Gabi. This year, INQUIRER.net is webcasting the Masses at the Church of the Gesu, inside the Loyola Heights campus of the Ateneo de Manila University. Wednesday night’s celebrant: Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, SJ. Choir: Aleron.

Simbang Gabi at the Gesu (Day 1)

Simbang Gabi at the Gesu (Day 2)

HEADLINES

PH gov’t demands
Pemberton custody

The Philippine government on Tuesday night demanded custody of Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton after serving an Olongapo City court warrant for the US Marine’s arrest on a murder charge in connection with the killing of Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude.

DFA to give US Embassy execs Pemberton’s arrest order Tuesday night

Murder raps filed against US Marine in Laude slay

HEADLINES

SURVIVOR'S TALE

‘I saw death
so close’

“The man with big boots kept on looking for students and pumping bullets into their bodies. I lay as still as I could and closed my eyes, waiting to get shot again."

141—mostly children—killed in Pakistan attack

Aquino condemns Taliban killing in Pakistan, says it dishonors Islam