Convicted United States Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton will be blacklisted from returning to the Philippines following his deportation, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Saturday, Sept. 12.
DOJ Undersecretary Markk Perete said that, aside from a deportation order from the Bureau of Immigration (BI), “Pemberton is also blacklisted.”
“Under the rules, a person blacklisted on the basis of moral turpitude may apply to lift the order of blacklisting 10 years after its implementation,” said Perete who has supervision over the BI.
In the meantime, the DOJ spokesman said “the deportation of Mr. Pemberton is still being processed by the BI.”
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente earlier said the BI board of commissioners issued a Sept. 16, 2015 deportation order against Pemberton for being an undesirable alien.
“His order for deportation is based on a finding of undesirability on account of the commission of a crime involving moral turpitude (homicide),” Perete explained.
An Olongapo City court convicted Pemberton for homicide in 2015 for the 2014 killing of transgender Jennifer Laude.
Pemberton, who was sentenced to imprisonment ranging from six to 10 years, was eventually given absolute pardon by President Duterte for his conviction.
After having received last Thursday, Sept. 10, from the DOJ a copy of the absolute pardon signed by Duterte, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said it formally turned over at around 11:50 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, the custody of Pemberton to the BI.
While his deportation is being processed, Pemberton will remain at the detention facility of the Joint Military Assistance Group (Jusmag) in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City where he has been detained since his conviction.