Makabayan solons slam early Pemberton release

Representatives from the House Makabayan Bloc slammed the decision of an Olongapo court to release former US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton, who was convicted in 2015 over the death of Filipina Jennifer Laude.

In a statement on Thursday, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Ferdinand Gaite urged the concerned Olongapo court to review its decision allowing for Pemberton's release and immediately table the appeal of Laude's family.

"Nakakadismaya na special treatment na nga si Pemberton sa pagtupad sa kanyang sentensya, ay maaga pa siyang lalaya. He never spent one single day in a Philippine prison," he said.

"Instead, he was kept in an American facility, guarded by his fellow American soldiers, and possibly given the best treatment a convicted criminal could wish for. Hindi ko alam kung masasabi talaga natin na naparusahan siya para sa kanyang karumal-dumal na krimen," he added.

Laude, a 26-year-old transgender woman, was found dead in the bathroom of a Celzone Lodge room in Olongapo City on October 11, 2014. He was convicted in 2015, a conviction that was affirmed by the Court of Appeals.

But in an order dated September 1, Judge Roline Ginez-Abalde said Pemberton is "entitled to be released for he had already served the 10-year maximum of his penalty," taking into account the good conduct time allowances (GCTA) he had accumulated while in jail.

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas said Pemberton's release is an "injustice to all Filipino women and LGBTQ who were made highly-vulnerable to rape, prostitution, and other forms of gender-based violence under VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement) and EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement)."

"The Olongapo court granted the early release of a transphobic murderer under GCTA who wasn't even detained at the New Bilibid Prison but at a relatively lavish detention facility in Camp Aguinaldo," she said.

"Where is the justice in that? His conduct was never put to test as he was living comfortably in his specially made cell," she added.

Both Gaite and Brosas agreed that Pemberton's release should amplify the calls to terminate VFA, which governs the conduct of visiting US personnel holding military exercises in the Philippines.

"Malinaw na malinaw sa kasong ito kung gaano ka-tagibang laban sa Pilipinas, sa mga Pilipino ang VFA. Habang inilalagay ng kasunduang ito sa panganib ng pang-aabuso at karahasan ang ating mamamayan, tinitiyak naman nito na ang mga abusadong sundalong Kano ay mapoprotektahan at maaalagaan. Kailangan na talaga itong ibasura," Gaite said.

"We will continue to fight for Jennifer Laude and all victims of gender-based violence and remain steadfast in calling for the pull out of US troops in Philippine territories," Brosas added. --KBK, GMA News