TINULDUKAN na ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang ano pa mang isyu sa kasong kinakaharap ni US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton matapos itong gawaran ng absolute pardon.

Ayon kay Senador Imee Marcos, malinaw na ang layunin ng Pangulo ay maiwasan ang ano pang isyu na dulot ng usapin hinggil sa kaso ni Pemberton.

“The role of the president in issuing a pardon is to prevent any future discordant issues that opposition politicians would try to exploit. The president has laid the issue to rest and we thank him for it,” saad ni Marcos.

Sinabi ng senador na nakita rin sa desisyon ng Pangulo ang malalim na relasyon ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos.

“It shows that Philippines-US relations are very deep and very cordial. Mr Pemberton came to our country as part of the traditional friendly military exercises, the balikatan, between our two countries,” diin nito.

“It was very unfortunate that this had to happen. However,  the Philippines took jurisdiction over the case as mandated by the VFA. Justice has been served with the Philippine judicial system functioning in accordance with its constitutional duties,” dagdag pa ng senador.

Sa kabilang dako, itinuturing naman ni Senador Kiko Pangilinan na pagtatakip lamang sa tinawag nitong palpak na responde ng gobyerno laban sa COVID-19 ang iginawad na pardon laban kay
Pemberton.

“This questionable and highly controversial pardon helps to redirect and divert the public’s attention away from the incompetent, corrupt and failing Covid campaign,” giit ni Pangilinan.

TREASON AT BETRAYAL OF PUBLIC TRUST

“Absolute pardon for ex-US Marine Pemberton is treason, betrayal of public trust”.

Ito ang galit na pahayag ni Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas sa ibinigay na absolute pardon ni Pangulong Duterte kay Pemberton na unang nahatulan ng 6 hanggang 10 taong pagkakabilanggo dahil sa pagpatay sa transgender na si Jennifer Laude.

Ang pagbibigay ng absolute pardon kay Pemberton ay kinumpirma ni Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin sa pamamagitan ng kanyang post sa Twitter.

“Cutting matters short over what constitutes time served, and since where he was detained was not in the prisoner’s control—and to do justice—the President has granted an absolute pardon to
Pemberton. Here at the Palace,” ani Locsin.

“Pemberton’s guilt in the death of Jennifer Laude is loud and clear. This move by President Duterte is an outright disregard for the respect of the Philippine justice system and an affront to our sovereignty.

Pardoning such heinous crime is clearly an evidence of betrayal of public trust,” ani Brosas.

Sa panig naman ni Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Ferdinand Gaite, sinabi nito na nakakahiya ang ibinigay na pardon kay Pemberton dahil nagpakatuta aniya ang Pangulo sa United States (US).

“Tuta ng Kano! Walang ibang paglalarawan sa ginawang ito ni Pangulong Duterte kundi gawain ng isang tuta ng Kano. An act of an American lackey!,” ayon pa kay Gaite.

Magugunita na unang iniutos ni Olongapo RTC Presiding Judge Roline M. Ginez-Jabalde ang pagpapalaya kay Pemberton noong Setyembre 1, 2020 dahil sa Good Conduct Time Allowance na kinontra ng iba’t ibang grupo dahil hindi naman nakulong sa National Bilibid Prison ang US Marine na pumatay kay Laude.

“Tahasang pambababoy sa dangal ng mga Pilipino, pagbabalewala sa kasarinlan, at pagbalahura sa katarungan ang paggawad ng absolute pardon ng pangulo kay Lance Pemberton, ang sundalong
Amerikano na nahatulang pumaslang sa isang Pilipino na si Jennifer Laude,” paglalarawan naman ni Bayan Muna party-list Eufemia Cullamat. (BERNARD TAGUINOD)