President Duterte’s decision to grant absolute pardon to US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton effectively renders the criminal case against him closed, two senators said on Monday.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said there is nothing questionable with the President’s decision to grant pardon as such exercise is granted by the Constitution.

“Pardon of one convicted of a crime is a power granted to the President alone by the 1987 Constitution, Article VII, Section 19,” Sotto said in a statement.

“Such presidential charity is immune from any challenge from any person, institution or other branch of government. Any complaint about its exercise is futile,” Sotto said.

If anyone wants to reverse the decision, Sotto said one must first amend the Constitution.

“Such complainant must first seek to amend the Constitution if he so desires. The case is closed. Consummatum est (It is completed),” the Senate leader stressed.

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson echoed Sotto’s position, saying the President’s move “settled all debates and discussions on the legality of Pemberton's GCTA (good conduct time allowance) issues.”

“Some people may question the wisdom and reasons behind the grant of absolute pardon by the President until they are black and blue,” Lacson said in a text message to reporters.

“Since we cannot question the exercise of that power by the President under the Constitution, it will be a waste of time and effort to further deliberate on the matter,” he further said.

Lawmakers had earlier questioned Pemberton’s release from jail due to the GCTA and have urged the courts to consider the victim, Jennifer Laude’s family’s, appeal.

But Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that with the granting of an absolute pardon, all issues pertaining to Pemberton’s release due to the GCTA would no longer be an issue.

The granting of absolute pardon, Roque said, does not erase Pemberton’s conviction.