Authorities in the Philippines have named a U.S. Marine as a suspect in the murder of a transgender person he met in a bar. According to the police report, the 26-year-old victim was found Saturday strangled in the bathroom of a hotel room in Olongapo City, which is known for its shady bars. U.S. troops have been conducting a 10-day joint military exercise with Filipino forces. The Marine is in custody of American military officials aboard the USS Peleliu. The commander of the U.S. Pacific Command ordered that the USS Peleliuand another warship remain in the Philippines until the murder investigation has closed. “A U.S. Marine has been identified as a possible suspect in the ongoing investigation. The United States will continue to fully cooperate with Philippine law-enforcement authorities in every aspect of the investigation,” said the U.S. Embassy in a statement.
