MALACAÑANG on Thursday, September 10, 2020, said President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to grant US marine Joseph Scott Pemberton an absolute pardon might be a way for the Philippines to secure a Covid-19 vaccine from the United States.
In his televised speech, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the President always decides based on the country’s national interests.
Roque assured that the government still considers the sovereignty of the Philippines.
“Hindi na po ako na sorpresa, sa totoo lang po, kasi alam ko na mayroong mas mataas o mas importanteng national interest na kinakailangang pangalagaan ng Presidente, bagama’t pareho pa rin po kami ng paninindigan pagdating doon sa pagiging malaya ng Pilipinas,” he said.
The spokesperson noted that the United States is among the countries that are developing the vaccine against Covid-19.
“Sa panahon po ng pandemic, huwag po nating kakalimutan na apat na bansa lang po ang gumagawa ng vaccine, at napapansin naman po natin ang Presidente ay talagang binibigyan ng emphasis na sana ay magkaroon na nga ng vaccine,” he said.
He added that the country may have a bigger chance at securing Covid-19 vaccines because of the President’s decision to release Pemberton.
“Tingin ko naman, itong desisyon ng Presidente, ito ay personal na opinyon ko, ang pagbibigay ng pardon kay Pemberton ay kabahagi ng pagnanais ng Presidente na kapag meron nang vaccine na madevelop kung sa America man, ay makikinabang din ang Pilipinas,” Roque said.
“So sa akin po, I am not surprised, dahil panahon ng pandemic, at alam ko po ang emphasis ng ating Presidente ay ang makakuha ng mga vaccine para sa mga Pilipino,” he added.
Roque, lawyer for the family of transgender woman Jennifer Laude in 2014, said he does not see any problem with the President’s decision if it is for the betterment of the Filipino majority.
“Sa akin po, bagama’t tayo po ang tumayong abogado ng pamilyang Laude, kung ang ibig sabihin naman niyan eh lahat ng Pilipino ay magkakaroon ng vaccine kung ang mga Amerikano ang maka-develop, wala po akong problema diyan,” he said.
Pemberton, who was convicted of homicide for killing Filipino Laude in 2014, was ordered released by the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court’s Branch 74 on September 1, 2020.
Just as Laude’s family filed a motion for reconsideration, Duterte announced his decision to grant Pemberton an absolute pardon.
On September 3, Roque slammed the Olongapo Court’s decision, saying that it was a “judicial overreach” to order the release of Pemberton and the government will file a motion for reconsideration.
The spokesperson had also said that Laude’s death was a symbol of “the death of Philippine sovereignty.” (SunStar Philippines)