Pemberton was found guilty of homicide, considered a lesser offense than murder, sentenced to serve 6-12 years in prison and ordered to pay the Laude family $95,000 by the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court. Despite his conviction, the U.S. government is colluding with the Philippine government to undermine the decision that Pemberton be detained in Philippine prison.
“We demand the President Obama respect the national sovereignty of the Philippines and immediately order U.S. authorities to hand over convicted killer Joseph Scott Pemberton to the Philippine authorities to serve his sentence,” said Yves Nibungco, national chairperson of Anakbayan-USA.
The youth activists also called on the abrogation of “unequal” agreements between the Philippines and the United States such as the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
“In light of this injustice, we renew our call for the junking of both the VFA and the EDCA. On top of being a violation of Philippine sovereignty, these agreements condone and protect murderers like Pemberton and further endanger the Philippines and the Filipino people,” Nibungco continued.
Anakbayan-USA also blasts the “special treatment” being provided to the convicted U.S. serviceman. “The Department of Defense recently confirmed that they are constructing a special detention facility for Pemberton. What’s next? Wireless internet access, gourmet meals and a personal gym?” Nibungco retorted. “This is another shameless subservient act by the Philippine government under its imperialist master,” Nibungco added.
Anakbayan-USA is comprised of 11 chapters and is the U.S. chapter of Anakbayan Philippines a national democratic mass organization of Filipino youth working to educate, organize and mobilize the community to address important issues that affect Filipinos in the US and the Philippines.
