Harry Roque reminisces on his stint as Jennifer Laude’s family counsel, netizens react

By Prince Golez

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Sunday reminisced about the time when he represented the family of Jennifer Laude, a transgender woman who was killed by US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton.

In a Twitter post, Roque said he once served as a lawyer for the Laude family during the trial.

“Bilang isang abogado, nirepresenta ko ang pamilya ni Jennifer Laude na isang transwoman laban sa US soldier na si Joseph Scott Pemberton simula noong 2014. Di nagtagal ay nahatulan si Pemberton ng homicide sa taong 2015. #Throwback,” the Palace official wrote.

His remarks, however, did not sit well with a number of netizens.

“Isa lang ang maliwanag sa amin: Sinayang mo ang tiwala ng taong bayan sa iyo ng ibenta mo ang prinsipyo mo sa satanas,” one netizen commented.

Another one wrote, “That was the time mataas tingin namin sayo, as a fearless human rights lawyer. Wala ka ng credibilidad teh.”

Twitter handle @smbpet also said: “Wag kana mag reminisce ng mga nakaraan mo Harry. Dahil lahat yun natabunan na ng pagiging UNGASIS mo sa panahon ni DU30 na halos ikampanya mo pa noong 2016 na HUWAG IBOTO!”

In 2022, President Rodrigo Duterte granted “absolute pardon” to Pemberton, saying that the country did not treat the soldier fairly and that it was not his fault that his good conduct time allowance credits were not recorded while in incarceration.

Pemberton was sentenced to 10 years in prison in December 2015 for killing Laude.

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