Pemberton hopes to apologize to Laude family, reveals plans after Duterte clemency: lawyer

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 9) – US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton has always wanted to apologize to the family of murdered Filipino transgender woman Jennifer Laude, and hopes to contact them after his clemency, his attorney said Wednesday.

“You know he’s always wanted to apologize to the Laude family, except he didn’t have a phone. She had no way of communicating with them; He doesn’t know the email address or if he could send that kind of letter, ”said Pemberton’s attorney, Atty. Rowena Flores told CNN Philippines’ The fountain.

“Now that he has been pardoned, he wants to contact them,” he added.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte granted Pemberton a full pardon after spending less than six years in jail for killing the 26-year-old transgender woman. In October 2014, Laude was found lifeless, naked with her head submerged in the bathroom of a motel room in the city of Olongapo after a night out with the then 19-year-old US Marine.

The president’s move was met with a wave of criticism from netizens, rights groups and even public officials, who lamented the “injustice” it brings to Laude’s loved ones.

Meanwhile, Laude’s family members were “shocked” and devastated upon hearing the news.

The family attorney, Atty. Virgie Suárez, argued that Pemberton had the opportunity to ask for forgiveness even during his time in prison.

“During his incarceration, he could not evenapologize? You know mom Little julie That’s one of his feelings earlier, he said, you don’t even have to apologize for everything you’ve done., ”Suárez in an interview with the same program.

“If you’ll excuse me, I hope it’s true. I really hope you learned something during your five years in prison. And i really hope so find peace of mind for the crime he committed,“she added.

[Translation: All that time he was in prison, he never even got to apoligize? You know her mother, that’s one of her sentiments for so long, she said, you didn’t even apologize for what you did. But if he does apologize, I hope it’s real. I hope he learned something from his 5-year imprisonment. And I hope he finds peace in his mind because of the crime he committed.]

Forward?

Pemberton’s attorney, on the other hand, revealed that the detained Marine was “relieved” upon hearing Duterte’s decision, and that he also hopes to move forward once he is released.

“If only I could bring time back of course He wishes these things never happened, and he would like to become a better person for the rest of his life … He would like to go off and do good things. be useful member of society and clear its name, ”Flores said.

[Translation: If he could turn back time, of course he would wish these things never happened, and he would like to become a better person for the rest of his life… He would like to set off and do good things so he can be a useful memebr of the society and to clear his name.]

Pemberton also hopes to go back to school and perhaps earn a college degree in philosophy, Flores added.

The camp also expressed hope that Pemberton could be released on Friday, but Flores said they are still complying with the requirements and are still gathering the necessary documents, including a written copy of Duterte’s clemency order.

Unfair treatment?

In explaining his decision to grant clemency, Duterte had said that it was unfair to hold Pemberton in custody and argued that it was not the latter’s fault that there was no proper record of his exemplary behavior while he was alone in a special holding cell at Camp Bonus.

The statement did not go down well with critics and Internet users, who for a long time criticized the supposed “special treatment” that is given to foreigners.

However, Flores claimed that his client also received his share of unfair treatment while in detention. On the one hand, she said Pemberton was detained even before a complaint was formally filed against her.

““ An ordinary Filipino who is subjected to a preliminary investigation remains free. He can travel all over the world because there are no charges against him, there is no probable cause against him, ”Flores said.

“But in this case, Marilou Laude filed her criminal complaint on October 15, 2014. But already on October 13 or two days before she filed a complaint, Pemberton was already in jail… He was already incarcerated without having been presented a case. against him, ”he added, but did not detail the nature of the arrest.

READ: Reviewing Jennifer Laude’s murder case

International news websites had reported that Pemberton was initially detained on the USS Peleliu, the ship to which his battalion was assigned, which was docked in the Subic Bay port.