Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte pardons U.S. Marine in murder of transgender woman

[Eugene]

Source: CBS News

Manila — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has granted an absolute pardon to a U.S. Marine convicted in 2015 of killing Jennifer Laude, a transgender woman in the Philippines, the president's spokesman confirmed on Monday.

"It does not mean his conviction is erased," presidential spokesman Harry Roque said of Duterte's decision to pardon Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton. "But what this means is Pemberton is free now and that there is no more question if he is entitled to good conduct time allowances."

Last week a court in Olongapo City, north of Manila and next to a former U.S. naval base, ordered Pemberton's early release after it ruled that the U.S. serviceman had shown good behavior and had therefore served the equivalent of his maximum sentence of 10 years.

The court's decision was met with opposition from various parties, including Laude's family.

-snip-

BY BARNABY LO
SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 / 11:25 AM / CBS NEWS


Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/philippines-duterte-pardon-us-marine-lance-corporal-joseph-scott-pemberton-murder-transgender-jennifer-laude/

[Coleman]

1. Good, now he can be courtmartialed

and be put away for life.

[LogicFirst]

3. Trump will not allow a court martial.

[IronLionZion]

2. 5 months until President Biden takes office

The US military can still hold him accountable. I hope Trump doesn't pardon this dude.

[Nitram]

4. What did Trump offer him in return?

[sakabatou]

5. Money? Prisoner trade?

In any case, the soldier will probably be offered a pardon by Trump.

[Nitram]

6. Undoubtedly.

Trump seems to think the military thinks like her does. They respect only power, and just pay lip service to regulations, customs, tradition, loyalty, and the law.