MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte did not promise to the family of slain Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude that he would keep convicted killer US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton in jail during his term, Malacañang said Monday.
This is in contrast to the claim of Laude’s mother Julita Laude that Duterte vowed not free Pemberton during his presidency.
“Ang alam ko po, walang ganyang promise ang Presidente. Ang pangako po ni Presidente, bibigyan ng katarungan ang pagkamatay ni Jennifer Laude at nakulong naman po si Pemberton ng halos anim na taon,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
(From what I know, the President did not make such a promise like that. What the President promised was that justice would prevail on the death of Jennifer Laude, and Pemberton was in fact jailed for nearly six years.)
But Roque, former counsel of the Laude family, confirmed that the President indeed extended financial assistance to the Laude family thrice.
“Since nanggaling naman yan kay Mrs. Laude, I can confirm, the President gave them financial aid three times pero yung halaga, bahala na po, wag na po natin isapubliko dahil ayaw ngang ilabas sana ni Presidente ang tulong niya sa Laude family,” Roque said.
(Since this came from Mrs. Laude, I can confirm, the President gave them financial aid three times but the amount, let us not disclose it because the President himself didn’t want to announce his assistance to the Laude family.)
The President granted absolute pardon to Pemberton, saying the government has not been fair to him since his good conduct time allowance credits were not accounted for while he was jailed at Camp Aguinaldo.
On Sunday, Pemberton was deported and left the Philippines following Duterte’s pardon via a Us military aircraft.