Aquino: Pemberton ‘in a facility controlled by the Philippines’

MOMENT OF TRUTH US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton, the lone suspect in the killing of transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, is escorted inside a court in Olongapo City, Zambales province, for the promulgation of the verdict on his case. Pemberton was found guilty of homicide and was sentenced to a jail term of six to 12 years. AP FILE PHOTO

ROME—President Benigno Aquino III said that with US Marine Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton being jailed at Camp Aguinaldo, the soldier who has been convicted for killing Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude is already “in a facility controlled by the Philippines.”

READ: Pemberton guilty of homicide in Laude case, sentenced to up to 12 yrs

Shortly before he left for Manila on Friday, Aquino met with the Philippine media delegation that covered his weeklong working visit to Paris, Rome and the Vatican.

In addition, the President pointed out that Pemberton has already been in a facility under the control of Philippine authorities at the start of his detention last year.

“The facility in the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), I think at ISAFP (Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines), is going to be manned by Bureau of Corrections personnel or is already being manned by Bureau of Corrections personnel. In effect, this is an extension of the (New) Bilibid (Prisons) and consistent with the agreements under the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement),” Aquino said in a press conference.

READ: Protesters demand transfer of Pemberton to Bilibid

However, Pemberton continues to be detained at the Joint US Military Assistance Group (Jusmag) Compound in Camp Aguinaldo, not at the ISAFP.

READ: DOJ: Pemberton to remain in Camp Aguinaldo

Aquino said with Pemberton’s conviction, the Philippines showed that it has courts that can issue “judgments properly.”

“The rule of law happens in our country. It is respected by the other state. Therefore, it redounds to both parties’ benefits that are not unequal. We have equality among two equally sovereign states that when an infraction is committed, you have to pay for it,” the President said. RAM