MANILA – American Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton apologized to the family of slain Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude, whom he choked to death in 2014 inside a motel in Olongapo City.
Pemberton made the statement through his legal counsel Atty. Rowena Garcia-Flores on Sunday after he was deported back to the United States via military plane at 9:14 a.m. from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“To the family of Ms. Jennifer Laude, he extended his most sincere sympathy for the pain he caused,” Garcia-Flores said.
“In the years he spent in confinement, he spent much time contemplating the many errors in his ways regarding the night of Oct. 11, 2014. He wishes he had the words to express the depth of his sorrow and regret,” she added.
Pemberton also expressed his gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte, who granted him the absolute pardon last week.
“Mr. Pemberton wishes to express his deepest gratitude to President Duterte for granting him an absolute pardon. He is extremely grateful for this act of compassion,” the message read.
Laude family’s lawyer Atty. Virgie Suarez, meanwhile, wished Pemberton peace of mind and hoped that he learned the value of life and dignity regardless of gender and nationality.
Pemberton was convicted of homicide over the death of Laude and sentenced to six to 10 years of imprisonment. He had served over five years when an Olongapo judge ruled that he was entitled to be released given the GCTAs he supposedly earned on top of his actual time served.
Duterte’s move to pardon Pemberton drew criticism, with members of the LGBT community and counsel of the Laude family saying that the President had bargained the Filipinos’ sovereignty to the US./PN
