Itinanggi ng Philippine Ambassador to the United States na may pressure mula sa mga opisyal sa Amerika para palayain ang sundalong si Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton dahil sa pagpatay sa transgender woman na si Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude noong 2014.
Ayon kay Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, wala raw itong nakikitang indikasyon na itinulak ng Estados Unidos ang pagpapalaya kay Pemberton.
“There was no pressure or any indication that the United States was pushing. They obviously just want to protect their soldiers which they do all over the world,” wika ni Romualdez.
Katunayan, nabigla pa nga raw ang US nang bigyan si Pemberton ng absolute pardon ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
“Even Ambassador Kim was surprised of the President’s decision to pardon Private (sic) Pemberton,” ani Romualdez.
Giit pa ng Philippine envoy, nakikinabang na raw ang Pilipinas sa mga nagawa ng Pangulong Duterte upang mapagtibay pa ang relasyon ng bansa sa Amerika.
“I think what President Duterte has done as far as our relationship with the United States is that he has always been emphasizing sovereignty and mutual respect, and I think we’re getting that now more than ever,” anang envoy.
“I think our relationship is much better than it ever was.”
Una rito, sinabi ni Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. na dahil sa pagbibigay ng Pangulo ng pardon kay Pemberton, isa raw itong senyales na wala raw problema ang Presidente sa Visiting Forces Agreement.
