Naghain ng petisyon si Michelle Laude, kapatid ng napatay na transgender na si Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, ng indirect contempt laban kay Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) Executive Director, Undersecretary Eduardo Oban at 11 hindi kinilalang US Security Personnel ng nahatulang si US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton noong Lunes sa Olongapo Regional Trial Court.
Ayon sa petisyon, hindi nasunod ang desisyon ng RTC na ilagay si Pemberton sa New Bilibid Prison, Bureau of Corrections sa Muntinlupa City,
Imbes, naghain ang mga abogado ni Pemberton ng Urgent Motion for Clarification na humihiling na ikulong si Pemberton sa Armed Forces of the Philippines Custodial Center sa Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
“Oban manifested in open court that Philippine government authorities composed of the Bureau of Corrections, Department of Justice, and the Philippine National Police, among others agreed that the accused, when necessary, shall be confined at the AFP Custodial Center, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City and under the supervision of the Bureau of Corrections,” saad sa petisyon.
Si Pemberton ay kasalukuyang nakadetine sa Camp Aguinaldo.
Sinabi ng abogado ni Laude na si Atty. Harry Roque Jr. na mayroong contravention at patent disobedience sa desisyon ng RTC dahil tumanggi ang 11 hindi pinangalanang US security personnel na nagbabantay kay Pemberton na ibigay siya sa PNP para dalhin sa Bilibid Prison.
“After the promulgation, Pemberton’s lawyers quickly filed a motion asking the court to clarify where he should be detained under the VFA,” sabi ni Roque.
Sa kabila ng kautusan ni Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde na dalhin siya sa AFP Custodial Center, ilang media outfit ang nag-ulat na si Pemberton ay hindi dinala sa AFP Custodial Center ng 11 security personnel nito o ni Undersecretary Oban.
Sa halip, dinala si Pemberton sa detention facility ng Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) sa Camp Aguinaldo.
“These actions are clear disobedience and violation of the lawful order of the court to temporarily detain him at the AFP Custodial Center under the supervision of the Bureau of Corrections,” sinabi ng isa pang abogado ni Laude na si Atty. Virgie Suarez. (JONAS REYES)