Absolute pardon given to Pemberton ‘hurts’ Rep. Geraldine Roman

Bataan First District Rep. Geraldine Roman. GREG REFRACCION/INQUIRER CENTRAL LUZON FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Saying she cannot help but feel “hurt,” Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman hit the “special treatment” being given to foreigners following the granting of “absolute pardon” to US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton, who was convicted for the death of Filipino transgender woman Jennifer Laude.

In a Facebook post, Roman, the first transgender woman to be elected to the House of Representatives, said she disagrees with the move to grant amnesty to Pemberton.

“As a human being with a trans experience, hindi ko maiwasang masaktan sa mga nagaganap sa kaso ng aking trans sister na si Jennifer Laude laban kay Joseph Scott Pemberton,” Roman said.

(I cannot help but feel hurt with what is happening in the case of my trans sister Jennifer Laude against Joseph Scott Pemberton.)

“Mariin kong ipinapahayag ang hindi ko pagsang-ayon sa pagpapalaya kay Joseph Scott Pemberton na may pananagutan sa pagpatay kay Jennifer Laude noong 2014,” she added.

(I am expressing my strongest opposition to set free Joseph Scott Pemberton who is liable for the killing of Jennifer Laude in 2014.)

Roman likewise, hit this “special treatment” being given to foreigners, as she pointed out that there are many Filipinos who are not given the same opportunity for freedom.

“Bilang isang Filipino, tinatanong ko ang aking sarili kung bakit kailangang mangyari ito at kung bakit binigyan ng special treatment ang isang banyaga,” Roman said.

(Being a Filipino, I am asking myself why all of these things should happen and why special treatment be given to a foreigner.)

“Marami sa ating mga kababayan ang nagkasala sa batas ngunit hindi naman nabigyan ng parehong pagkakataon. Hindi dapat ganito, do we deserve less?” she added.

(A lot of our fellow countrymen also violated the law but never given the same chance. This shouldn’t be, do we deserve less?)

While Roman recognized that countries do have negotiations, as a member of the government and a politician herself, she believes that Pemberton should still be held accountable based on the whole scope of the law in the Philippines.

https://www.facebook.com/GeraldineBRoman/posts/1445316752339995

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 length of his penalty after taking into account the good conduct time allowances he accumulated while detained.

In a televised speech on Monday night, President Rodrigo 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.

(It is not the fault of Pemberton that it wasn’t properly computed, because we should allow him, the good character presumption because no Marines reported that he went berserk.)

“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.

(I told the Justice Secretary, Medialdea, I called them earlier, I said it’s my decision to pardon. Correct me if I’m wrong but this is what I think about the case. We have not treated Pemberton fairly.)

JPV