[ad_1]
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Risa Hontiveros objected to swift action by legal institutions in releasing U.S. Navy Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton based on his good conduct time allowance (GCTA), and asked about that jailed Filipinos cannot afford the same treatment.
Hontiveros, in a statement Thursday, hinted that the Philippine judiciary and government may be granting Pemberton some sort of privilege.
Pemberton was convicted of killing a transgender woman Jennifer Laude in 2014. But on Tuesday, the Olongapo Regional Court of First Instance (RTC) issued an order allowing the convict’s release.
“The speed with which our institutions have acted in the case of a white American is a privilege never granted to many Filipinos. What message does this send to our citizens who have routinely suffered because of our own justice system? Hontiveros asked.
The senator, a staunch supporter of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQIA +) community, also questioned why Pemberton was on the receiving end of the highly contested GCTA when he has never apologized to Laude’s family and other members. LGBTQIA + who have been affected.
“Pemberton was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but his ‘hate crime’, which he committed in ‘self-defense’, has so far resulted in less than six years of punishment. Many LGBTQI + groups believe that six years is not enough, especially considering the gruesome murder she committed against Jennifer, ”Hontiveros said.
“To add insult to injury, since Jennifer’s death in 2014, Pemberton has never apologized for the immeasurable pain it caused to the LGBTQI + community, the country, or the Laude family, even when asked by them and their attorney. . Those years of deafening silence, and now an early release, this is not what Jennifer deserves, “he added.
Reports were published on Wednesday that Olongapo RTC Presiding Judge Roline M. Ginez-Jabalde signed the order stating that Pemberton has already accumulated jail time of 10 years, one month, and 10 days, including time deducted due to GCTA.
But earlier Thursday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Pemberton’s release would be stay on hold await the court’s decision on the motion for reconsideration of the accusation.
On Wednesday, activist groups also expressed concern about the reason for Pemberton’s release, especially on the basis of the GCTA which generated controversy in 2019.
Was discontinued by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra in August 2019, after it was revealed that several convicts who have committed heinous crimes may be freed for showing good behavior while in jail.
Hontiveros also asked if the Pemberton team was using the COVID-19 pandemic to sneak into an early release. Pemberton’s sentence was 10 years, but with the GCTA, his actual time only lasted six years in prison.
“It also appears that the Pemberton team saw the pandemic as an opportunity to plan for their release, as they filed a Computing Motion in June under the Good Conduct Time Allowance Act and then filed a Motion for Release in August,” he said. Hontiveros.
“I hope the court will give due course to Jennifer’s camp reconsideration motion,” he added. [ac]
Read next
EDITOR’S SELECTION
MOST READ
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download from 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For comments, complaints or inquiries, please contact us.
[ad_2]
