MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine president pardoned a U.S. Marine on Monday in a surprise move that will free him from imprisonment in the 2014 killing of a transgender Filipino woman that sparked anger in the former American colony. Joseph Scott Pemberton because the Marine was not treated fairly after opponents blocked his early release for good conduct in detention. His lawyer, Rowena Garcia-Flores, told The Associated Press that Pemberton was already aware of Duterte’s decision when she called him. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who once served as a lawyer for the Laude family, said the presidential pardon would mean the immediate release of Pemberton from detention. A witness told investigators that Pemberton said he choked Laude after discovering she was transgender.

Source: Fox News September 07, 2020 23:56 UTC