Pardon of US Marine in Philippines may be linked to coronavirus vaccine access, says Duterte spokesman
- President is ‘upholding higher national interest’, says Harry Roque when asked for his ‘personal take’ on controversial move
- American soldier Joseph Scott Pemberton was in jail for killing Filipino transgender woman Jennifer Laude
“His decision didn’t surprise me. Why? Because I know he is upholding the higher national interest,” Harry Roque said in a regular news briefing when asked to give his “personal take” on the president’s move.
Duterte on Monday pardoned Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton who was serving a six- to 10-year sentence for killing Jennifer Laude near a former US Navy base in 2014, sparking condemnation from activists who described the move as a “mockery of justice”.
Roque, who served as lawyer in the prosecution of Pemberton, had likened Laude’s killing to the “death of Philippine sovereignty”.
“I think this pardon, although this is my personal opinion, was to ensure Filipinos would benefit from a vaccine against Covid-19 should the Americans develop one,” Roque said. “I don’t see any problem with that”.