The planned termination of the country's visiting forces agreement (VFA) with the United States will help bring justice for the killing of Jennifer Laude, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said President Duterte earlier ordered the termination of the military deal with the United States but merely suspended its implementation for six months.

"Sa tingin ko naman dahil ang desisyon ni Presidente ay tapusin na itong VFA na ito, eh ito po ang tunay na pagbibigay ng katarungan kay Jennifer Laude (I think because of the President's decision to end the VFA, this will truly give justice to Jennifer Laude)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Thursday.

"Dahil ang pagpatay naman kay Jennifer Laude ay symbolic sa pagpatay ng soberanya ng bansang Pilipinas (Because the killing of Jennifer Laude is symbolic of the death of the sovereignty of the Philippines)," he said.

In February, the President ordered the scrapping of the VFA with the United States over alleged inequities in the treaty provisions and alleged meddling in the country’s sovereign affairs. But last June, the government informed the United States about its decision to suspend the VFA termination for six months in light of certain developments.

The agreement governs the conduct of American troops visiting the country, including giving the Philippines jurisdiction over US military personnel who commit crimes under local laws.

An Olongapo City court has ordered the release of US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton, convicted of the 2014 killing Laude, for completing his prison sentence His jail time was reportedly reduced though good conduct time allowance credits.

Asked about the President's reaction to the court decision, Roque said Duterte has no personal thoughts on the matter yet.  But he mentioned Duterte's decision to scrap the VFA.

"Kung maaalala ninyo po, he has abrogated ‘no, ordered the abrogation of the VFA dahil ito nga po ay hindi pursuant to our national interest (If you remember, he has abrogated, ordered the abrogation of the VFA because it is not pursuant to our national interest)," he said.

Roque, former lawyer of the Laude family, has denounced the court decision, saying it was a travesty of justice. 

"Hindi naman pupuwede na trinato na parang hayop iyong kababayan natin, tapik lang sa kamay ang parusa (We can't allow our countrymen to be treated like animals and then the penalty will just be a slap on the wrist)," he said.

Asked if the court verdict will affect the country's agreements with the US, Roque said: "Well, natural po ‘no, dahil naipakita natin na under the VFA kapag pumatay ang Amerikano ng Pilipino na parang hayop iyong Pilipino eh limang taon lang ang pupuwedeng maging parusa na pagkakakulong – hindi po dapat iyan (Well, it is natural because it has been shown that under VFA, if an American kills a Filipino like an animal, the penalty is just five years in jail. That should not be the case)."

In Thursday's press briefing, Roque said Pemberton must not yet be released until the motion for reconsideration to the court verdict is resolved. 

He said the decision was a case of "judicial overreach" after the judge granted good conduct credits contrary to the recommendation of the Bureau of Corrections. "Dahil sa batas naman, it is the executive that will determine the entitlement to liberality as far as punishment is concerned," he said.