LESBIAN, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) organizations slammed President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to grant absolute pardon to an American soldier convicted of killing transwoman Jennifer Laude in 2014.
Bahaghari called on the President to revoke his decision and keep US marine Joseph Scott Pemberton in prison.
"Keep Pemberton in jail.. For as long as US soldier Pemberton walks free, for as long as skewed military agreements between the Philippines and the United States stand, for as long as there is even one US soldier on Philippine soil, there can be no justice for Jennifer Laude," the group said.
For University of the Philippines (UP) Babaylan, Duterte's decision is unforgivable.
"We will never forgive Duterte for pardoning his fellow murderer Pemberton. This is a direct attack not just to Jennifer and her family but to every trans person and every victim of our corrupt and unequal justice system," the group said.
The Lagablab Network likewise condemned Duterte’s move.
"We condemn this betrayal to the memory of Jennifer, her family, and the country, " the group said.
Locsin announced Monday, September 7, 2020, that Duterte had granted absolute pardon to Pemberton, just five days after the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court ordered the American’s release.
The release order sparked questions on whether Pemberton is entitled to good conduct time allowance (GCTA), which is granted to persons deprived of liberty for good behavior.
In its order releasing Pemberton, the court said that with GCTA, the American soldier has served more than 10 years in prison.
Pemberton, who was convicted of homicide in December 2015, was sentenced to six up to 10 years in prison.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the President does not need to explain his decision.
"Hindi na po kinakailangan bigyan ng dahilan ng President iyan, dahil ang pag-grant ng pardon at parole, hindi po iyan katungkulan ng hudikatura, kundi katungkulan ng ehekutibo. ‘Yan po ay one of the most presidential of all presidential powers," he said in a radio interview.
Having been pardoned, Pemberton is now free from criminal liability and allowed to go home to the US.
Pemberton, who was in the country to participate in joint military exercises, met Laude in a bar in October 2014.
During the trial in 2015, Pemberton admitted to choking Laude after learning that she was a transgender. But he claimed that he merely rendered Laude unconscious.
Laude was found dead, her head slumped in a toilet bowl in a hotel. Autopsy reports said she drowned. (SunStar Philippines)