Robredo joins outrage over pardon for Pemberton: ‘Kapag mayaman at nasa poder, malaya’

MANILA, Philippines — “Kapag mahirap, may parusa; kapag mayaman at nasa poder, malaya.”

Vice President Leni Robredo said this Tuesday, lending her voice to the growing opposition to the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to grant “absolute pardon” to US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton, who was convicted for the death of Filipino transgender woman Jennifer Laude.

Robredo questioned the fairness of the move, pointing out the disparity in the stature of the US serviceman and the thousand other Filipinos who do not have access to or the resources to secure legal services languish in detention.

“Ang tanong nga natin: Patas at makatarungan ba ang naging desisyong ito? Libo-libo ang nakakulong pa rin dahil walang pambayad sa abugado. Hindi malitis-litis ang kanilang mga kaso,” Robredo said in a statement.

“May mga pamilya silang nagugutom, nagkakasakit, at naghihirap. Pemberton had lawyers, special detention facilities, a quick, public trial, and an appeal. Ngayon, lalong luminaw na mayroon din siyang resources para masigurong mabibigyang-pansin ng mismong Pangulo ang kaso niya,” she added.

Further, Robredo said that many Filipinos, who have committed less serious crimes, do not  enjoy the same privileges.

“Isa lang ang kasong ito sa maraming patunay ng pagkiling sa makapangyarihan na nakikita natin mula sa pamahalaan. Napakaraming mga Pilipino na mas magaan ang sala, ngunit hindi nabibigyang-pansin o nabibigyan ng ganitong uri ng pribilehiyo,” Robredo said.

The Vice President likewise expressed hopes that the President “exercise his vast powers in a manner that is fair and that benefits the common Filipino.”

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who formerly represented the Laude family, on Monday said Pemberton can now be released from jail and his good conduct time allowance (GCTA) is no longer an issue.

“This means that Pemberton can now walk free, his entitlement to GCTA, and whether the law is applicable to him are no longer in question. The President has erased other punishments to be imposed on Pemberton,” Roque said in Filipino.

Meanwhile, in a televised speech on Monday night, Duterte said he decided to grant absolute pardon to Pemberton because the Philippines “did not treat him fairly.”

“It is not the fault of Pemberton na hindi na na-compute because we should allow him, the good character presumption kasi wala namang nagreport na Marines na nagsabi na nagwawala siya,” Duterte said.

“So sabi ko kay Justice Secretary [Menardo Guevarra], [Executive Secretary Salvador] Medialdea, pinatawag ko sila kanina, sabi ko it’s my decision to pardon. Correct me if I’m wrong but ito ang tingin ko sa kaso. We have not treated Pemberton fairly,” he added.

Pemberton was convicted of killing transgender woman Jennifer Laude in 2014 but the Olongapo Regional Trial Court (RTC) recently released an order allowing the release of the American soldier.

According to the Olongapo court’s order, Pemberton was said to have already served the 10-year maximum of his penalty after taking into account the good conduct time allowances he accumulated while detained.

EDV