Philippines wants to observe Pemberton's court martial proceedings -Locsin

The Philippines will push to have a representative present to observe the court martial proceedings of convicted killer and US marine Joseph Scott Pemberton.

In a budget hearing on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. said his office would press to have a Philippine representative during the court martial of Pemberton in the United States.

"We might have an observer present in the court martial. That's not a bad idea... if they will allow us, because that falls under military relations but we will certainly press for that," he said.

Locsin was asked how the Philippines would be involved in the court martial proceedings of Pemberton, who was convicted and deported from the Philippines for killing Filipino trans woman Jennifer Laude, as the DFA was defending proposed P21.965 billion budget as allocated under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2021.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. on Monday said Pemberton would still face court martial proceedings in his home country, as promised by US authorities during the pre-trial on the case against the American serviceman.

READ: Timeline of Jennifer Laude slay case

Pemberton was deported on Sunday, September 13, 2020, after he was pardoned by President Rodrigo Duterte five years into his service of a six- to 10-year prison sentence for homicide.

The absolute pardon extinguished Pemberton's criminal liability, and rendered moot the legal debate on whether or not he was entitled to early release for "good conduct."

Days before the pardon, a court in Olongapo ordered his release, saying he was considered to have served one month over his maximum penalty of 10 years because of good conduct time allowances (GCTA) on top of his actual time served.

Pemberton on Sunday also apologized to the Laude family, claiming he wished he had the words to express the depth of his sorrow and regret.

The Palace also denied the claim of Laude's mother Julita that Duterte promised that Pemberton would not be released while he is the chief executive. -NB, GMA News