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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pemberton not qualified under GCTA, Laude lawyer says

Pemberton not qualified under GCTA, Laude lawyer says

Published Sep 3, 2020 12:08 pm

Convicted United States Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton does not qualify under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law which grants earlier release of persons convicted of crimes, the lawyer of the family of slain transgender Jennifer Laude said Thursday.

Convicted United States Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton
(Photo courtesy of Olongapo City Police via PNA / MANILA BULLETIN)

“We disagree with that conclusion by the court. We don’t think that he could actually avail of the benefits of this rule,” said lawyer Rommel Bagares during an interview over ANC.

Bagares pointed this out after an order for Pemberton’s release was issued by Olongapo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 74 which considered the GCTA credits of the US serviceman and determined that he has already served his sentence.

Pemberton, who is detained in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, was convicted for homicide in 2015 for the 2014 killing of Jennifer and has been sentenced to imprisonment ranging from six to 10 years.

Bagares cited that the Supreme Court (SC) has already ruled on questions regarding the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), particularly, the 2009 ruling on a rape case in Subic and the case on Jennifer.

“The court said here that we cannot raise the argument of equal protection because they said that to begin with there is really no equal treatment given to someone who is convicted or who is being prosecuted under the VFA because it is treated in a separate manner,” he said.

The lawyer said “the GCTA should not have been applied to him for that reason in the absence of a definite agreement that would cover him.”

“The agreement here only was signed with respect to where he would be detained and where he would be spending or serving sentence,” said Bagares.

Bagares said Pemberton committed was a heinous crime.

“This was a hate crime without any question. He should not qualify under the GCTA rules because heinous crimes are not covered by the rules,” Bagares said.

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