Former Laude family lawyer backs Duterte’s move to pardon Pemberton

By Prince Golez

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that he respects the wisdom of President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to grant absolute pardon to American soldier Joseph Scott Pemberton who was convicted of murdering transgender woman Jennifer Laude in 2014.

Roque, who once served as private prosecutor for the Laude family, believes the pardon of Pemberton, who has served about six years of his 10-year sentence, was “grounded on a broader national interest.”

Duterte’s mouthpiece had earlier likened the killing of Laude to the “death of Philippine sovereignty.”

He even suggested that the case of Pemberton should be a reason for the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which has been suspended for six months upon the instruction of the President.

Meanwhile, Roque clarified that the termination of the country’s VFA with the United States remains unchanged.

The suspension of the deal will be delayed because of the coronavirus (Covid-19), according to him.

“The termination of the VFA remains, albeit the suspension is lifted for six months as we need the cooperation of the United States and other many countries in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

The post Former Laude family lawyer backs Duterte’s move to pardon Pemberton first appeared on Latest Philippine politics news today.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)