The Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) strongly rejects the statement of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) of its plan to deport US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton. While it is true that Pemberton is a criminal and an undesirable alien in the country, deporting him would mean an escape from the Philippine judicial system and will set a precedent that foreign criminals can leave the country thru deportation.

Pemberton should remain and jailed in the Philippines and face his case for killing Jennifer Laude, a transgender in Olongapo City on October 14, 2014. The order of the BI to deport Pemberton is a shame and an insult to the victim, her families and to the Filipino people. Is it not bad enough that he is currently held by the US and not under Philippine custody?

We should learn from previous experiences such as the Subic rape case of Lance Corporal Daniel Smith. After the guilty verdict, Smith and his companions were flown out of the country. We should not allow this to happen again..

As Filipinos, we should watch the case closely and should not allow a travesty of Philippine Laws and its sovereignty. We call on the Aquino government to commit in jailing Pemberton in the country and not let him escape like the others. His continuing detention under US control is in fact a special treatment of a criminal in the Philippines. We continue to demand that Pemberton should be transferred to a regular jail facility in the Philippines like any other criminal. ***

Reference:

Abigail Anongos
Secretary General