The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday expressed willingness to assist the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) in facilitating the early release of United States Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton from his detention cell in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
"While inside Camp Aguinaldo, we are ready to provide kung anong assistance ang iri-request ng BuCor hinggil sa pag-re-release nila kay LCpl. Pemberton (While inside Camp Aguinaldo, we are ready to provide whatever assistance they will request pertaining to the release of Lcpl. Pemberton)," said Major General Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson.
However, the military spokesman said officials from the BuCor are yet to seek help from the AFP.
"Sa ngayon, wala pa naman silang request sa AFP (Right now, they have not requested anything from the AFP)," Arevalo said.
"Sa part ng AFP, wala kaming ginagawang preparasyon. BuCor naman kasi ang in-charge sa detention, processing, and actual release sa preso nila. (As for the AFP, we are not doing any preparation. The BuCor is in-charge of the detention, processing, and actual release of their prisoner)," he clarified.
Pemberton, who was convicted of homicide for the killing of Filipino transgender woman Jennifer Laude in 2014, is jailed at the Custodial Center of Camp Aguinaldo due to an existing Memorandum of Agreement between the AFP and BuCor.
The MOA provides that the AFP will make available the detention facility of Pemberton, who was jailed while participating in a joint Philippine-US military exercise through the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), while the BuCor retains the management and administration of the convicted detainee.
According to Pemberton's lawyers, the US soldier will likely be released within the week after President Duterte granted him an absolute pardon last Monday.
The absolute pardon was given days after the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court ordered for the US soldier's early release last week through the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law, which allows convicts a reduced prison term based on good behavior.
Pemberton has served only five years and eight months out of his six to 10-year prison term.
However, with the absolute pardon, Pemberton's criminal liability was completely removed without any condition.