By Fernan Angeles
THE FAMILY of slain transgender woman Jennifer Laude was shocked on what they described as an extreme position that President Rodrigo Duterte took when the latter gave US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton a presidential pardon, paving way for an unstoppable release of the convicted US serviceman.
Laude’s former defense lawyer Harry Roque, now presidential spokesperson, confirmed that Duterte had even given the family of the slain transgender financial support.
“Yes. Thrice since I became spokesman,” Rappler quoted Roque on Wednesday [September 9], in an apparent reference to the number of times the President extended help.
Lawyer Virgie Suarez, the Laude family’s current legal counsel hinted knowledge on the financial help but claims she is not aware how much it was.
Having said that, Suarez said that it was exactly what caught them by surprise, adding that Duterte was on their side in their campaign to attain justice for Jennifer’s murder.
Suarez said the Laude family is extremely disappointed learning of the President’s shift on conviction.
Duterte on Monday said Pemberton deserves to be released because the absence of a proper accounting of his behavior in a detention facility in Camp Aguinaldo is the fault of the government.
Interestingly, Duterte underscored the need to qualify Pemberton for Good Conduct and Time Allowance merits, a penal system mechanism that shortens jail term for those who have been behaving properly while in detention.
In order to “cut matters short” and “do justice,” as worded by Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr, Duterte decided to just grant absolute pardon for Pemberton.
The pardon also surprised Cabinet members and US Ambassador Sung Kim.
In a statement earlier issued to newsmen, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said it appears Duterte made his decision that very day.