Pemberton barred from PH for 10 years

MANILA, Philippines — Although pardoned by President Rodrigo Duterte for killing transgender woman Jennifer Laude, American marine Joseph Scott Pemberton has been blacklisted by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) as part of the ongoing deportation proceedings against him, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Saturday.

DOJ spokesperson Markk Perete said the blacklisting was the result of Pemberton’s conviction of homicide, a crime of moral turpitude, which made him an undesirable alien.

“Under the rules, a person blacklisted on the basis of moral turpitude may apply to lift the order of blacklisting 10 years after his implementation,” Perete said in a statement via Viber.

BI staff conducted a coordination meeting at Camp Aguinaldo on Saturday to discuss Pemberton’s departure.

Pemberton has the option to leave the country via commercial flight, although, being a member of the US Marine Corps, he can also be fetched by military aircraft at the US Embassy’s private hangar at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.