THE Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has received the order granting absolute pardon to US marine Joseph Scott Pemberton and has started the process of releasing him from prison.
BuCor spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag said Thursday, September 10, 2020, that a copy of the absolute pardon granted to Pemberton by President Rodrigo Duterte was sent by the Department of Justice.
“BuCor is now in coordination with relevant agencies that are involved in the process,” he said.
Pemberton will undergo the normal release process for a person deprived of liberty who is granted pardon. Chaclag did not elaborate, but said the process usually takes days.
After his release from detention, Pemberton will immediately be deported base on the deportation order issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) against him on September 16, 2015 on the ground of his being an undesirable alien.
Pemberton was convicted of homicide for the killing of Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude in October 2014.
He was sentenced in December 2015 to imprisonment of six to 10 years and has been detained in Camp Aguinaldo as his detention is covered by the Philippines-US Visiting Armed Forces of the Agreement.
The Olongapo City Trial Court, however, ordered him released in an order issued on September 1, 2020, saying he has served more than 10 years including the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) granted to him.
The court said Pemberton has already spent over five years and eight months in prison and credited him with 1,548 days of GCTA or more than four years which yields an accumulated jail time of 10 years, one month, and 10 days.
Following debates on whether Pemberton was entitled to GCTA or not, President Duterte announced Monday that he has decided to grant absolute pardon to Pemberton.
He said the American soldier has not been treated fairly. (SunStar Philippines)