Bureau of Corrections approved release order of Pemberton

September 10, 2020

The Bureau of Corrections approved on Thursday the release order for convicted killer US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton after he was granted absolute pardon by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Accordingly, subject PDL (person deprived of liberty) having no other legal cause to be detained shall be released immediately from confinement and shall be turned over to Bureau of Immigration, for he is a subject of Deportation Order issued on September 2015 . . . and as per letter request of Commissioner Jaime H. Morente of BID dated 4 September 2020, subject to strict compliance of pertinent laws, prison rules and regulation,” BuCor director General Gerald Bantag.

On Monday, Duterte granted absolute pardon to Pemberton who was convicted in 2015 for killing Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude in October 2014.

Last week, the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court ordered Pemberton's release from jail on ground of his eligibility under the Good Conduct Time Allowance law

Pemberton served more than five years into his 10-year homicide sentence at Camp Aguinaldo.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier said Pemberton's release and deportation from the country "can be completed by the weekend.”

"The date of Pemberton's actual exit from the country depends on his flight arrangements, considering that he is a military personnel of the US," Guevarra said. DMS