Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton has been given his ticket to freedom after President Rodrigo Duterte granted him absolute pardon.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed this on Monday afternoon, “Ibig sabihin makalalaya na si Pemberton. Wala nang issue kung siya ay entitled sa GCTA, kung applicable ba ang batas dahil hindi siya nakulong sa national penitentiary (This means Pemberton can be released. There are no more issues if he is entitled to the GCTA or if the law is applicable since he is not detained in the national penitentiary),” Roque stated.
“Binura na po ni Presidente kung ano pa ang parusa na dapat ipapataw kay Pemberton. Ang hindi po nabura ni Presidente ay ang conviction ni Pemberton. Mamamatay-tao pa rin siya (The President has erased whatever punishment is meant for Pemberton. What
the President did not erase is Pemberton’s conviction. He is still a killer),” Roque added.
Roque pointed out that the granting of parole is the job of the executive and is “one of the most presidential of all presidential powers.”
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra disclosed he was consulted on the matter.
Pemberton was convicted of homicide for the killing of Filipino transgender woman Jennifer Laude in 2014. There will no longer be any impediment on the release of Pemberton following the granting of the pardon. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
