MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Tuesday assured that no special treatment will be given to convicted US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton as they prepare for his release from detention.
Pemberton is set to walk free after President Rodrigo Duterte granted him an absolute pardon on Monday.
BuCor Spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag said they have started the preparations for Pemberton’s release although they have yet to receive a copy of the pardon.
Chaclag assured that the case will be treated as an ordinary release of an inmate and its process, which could take days, will be followed.
“At sa ngayon ay tini-treat natin na ordinary release ito ibig sabihin ay susundin po natin lahat yung mga process at hindi po tayo mag-i-skip,” he said.
“[Ang] gagawin siguro natin ay i-expedite lang po natin para matapos na rin po yung usapin,” he added.
The ordinary process for the release of inmates takes about four days to two weeks, the bureau said.
Chaclag further said that they will also await the directive from the Department of Justice before turning Pemberton over to the Bureau of Immigration
“Kukuha po tayo ng advice o directive sa DOJ kasi iba po ito sa ordinary pong foreigner ay itinuturnover po natin sa Bureau of Immigration,” he explained.
“Dahil may special case itong si PDL Pemberton, isasangguni po natin yan sa DOJ at kung sabihin nila na sa Immigration ay doon po handa po tayong mag turn over sa kanila,” he added.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the president’s granting of absolute pardon is enough to spur the BuCor to process Pemberton’s release from detention.
He will also direct the Bureau of Immigration to revoke the hold departure order issued against the American soldier, adding that he will not be treated like a deportee.
Pemberton was convicted of homicide for killing Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude in Olongapo City in 2014. He was sentenced to serve six to ten years in prison.
He has been detained in a facility at Camp Aguinaldo pursuant to the Philippines-US Visiting Forces Agreement.
Prior to Duterte’s pardon, an Olongapo court had ordered BuCor to recompute the time that Pemberton served and to determine if he is eligible to avail of the good conduct time allowance rule.
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