Pemberton’s lawyer has this statement on “Jennifer Laude Case”
Atty. Rowena Flores, Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton’s lawyer, reacted to the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to pardon her client on the “Jennifer Laude Case”.
In 2014, Pemberton was imprisoned as he was charged with murder. Reportedly, he killed Laude after he found out that she was a transwoman. The Court of Appeals supported that decision of the lower court in 2017.
However, in a recent televised speech of the President, he said that it was his personal decision to pardon Pemberton, based on the report from ABS-CBN. “You have not treated Pemberton fairly. So I will release him (through) pardon,” Duterte, a former prosecutor, said.
He added that the jail officials did not accurately calculate Pemberton’s served jail time under a law that rewards good behavior with shorter terms. The family Laude condemned this decision of the Chief Executive.
READ ALSO: Duterte Jokingly Invites Duque For Vacation in Spratlys
Several trans rights advocates also slammed this decision of the President on the “Jennifer Laude Case”. One of them was Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach who has been tweeting with “Trans Lives Matter” hashtag.
In line with Duterte’s decision, Pemberton’s lawyer said that they are clueless about this matter. “I didn’t know that any was forthcoming or that anybody filed an application for pardon in his behalf,” Atty. Rowena Flores said.
The lawyer also said that they only learned about this on the news. “I don’t really know what happened,” she stressed. Flores added that it is the discretion of the President to grant pardon.
When asked about the reaction of Pemberton to the decision of Duterte, the former soldier’s lawyer said, “He’s like a sort of teenager when it comes to talking and he wouldn’t really tell you long sentences and he wouldn’t discuss in details his emotions, but I could hear that he’s very happy from his voice.”
What can you say about this?
READ ALSO: Annabelle Rama ‘Nairita’ w/ Daughter Ruffa Gutierrez, Here’s Why
Please like and follow/subscribe:
Philnews.ph FB Page
Viral Facts
Philnews YouTube Channel