Charged ... Joseph Scott Pemberton has been charged with murder. Picture: Facebook. Source: Supplied

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila sought custody of Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton after he was charged by Filipino prosecutors on Monday in the October killing of Jennifer Laude in Olongapo city, northwest of Manila.

“It’s murder,” said prosector Emilie de los Santos. “It was aggravated by treachery, abuse of superior strength and cruelty.”

A regional trial court in Olongapo issued a warrant Tuesday for Pemberton’s arrest.

Laude, whose former name was Jeffrey, had apparently been strangled and drowned in a toilet bowl after Pemberton discovered that she was a transgender woman in a motel, where they had checked in after meeting in a bar, according to prosecutors.

Horrible death ... Jennifer Laude was strangled and drowned in a toilet bowl. Picture: Facebook. Source: Supplied

Prosectors say Marine Lance Corporal Jairn Michael Rose, who went out with Pemberton that night, acknowledged that the suspect later confided back at their ship that he attacked the woman he was with by choking her after discovering that she was a transgender when she undressed.

“I think I killed a he/she,” Pemberton was quoted as having told Cpl. Rose.

Pemberton, a skilled boxer, allegedly said he choked her from behind with his arm “for a couple of minutes” until she stopped moving then dragged her into the bathroom, according to the prosecutors.

The emotional case has reignited a debate over custody of US military personnel accused of local crimes. Left-wing groups and a lawyer for Laude’s family have demanded that Pemberton be turned over to Philippine authorities and locked up in an ordinary jail.

“The Filipino people should see Pemberton kissing the bars in a jail,” lawyer Harry Roque said.

‘I think I killed a he/she’ ... Joseph Scott Pemberton allegedly confessed the crime to a fellow Marine. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied

Foreign affairs department spokesman Charles Jose said the Philippines was expecting the “full cooperation of the US government in ensuring that justice is secured” for Laude.

The US government said it would continue to cooperate, citing Pemberton’s transfer from an American warship to a Philippine military camp, where he is detained. But the 19-year-old antitank missileman from Bristol, Massachusetts, remains under US custody as provided by the Visiting Forces Agreement signed by the allies.

Under the agreement, Washington has a right to retain custody of a suspect from the time a crime is allegedly committed until the completion of all judicial proceedings, the US Embassy in Manila said.

Pemberton is currently in US custody, but is being held in a Philippine military camp in a compromise between the longtime allies.