BuCor says US supplying Pemberton’s meals

From Malaya Business Insight (Dec 4): BuCor says US supplying Pemberton’s meals

THE United States is providing meals for American Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton who was convicted of homicide by an Olongapo City court last Tuesday for the killing of transgender Jeffrey Laude in October last year, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said yesterday.

Pemberton, who was sentenced to six to 12 years in prison, is detained in an air-conditioned 20-footer container van inside the compound of the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, guarded by BuCor personnel.

“They (US authorities) are bringing food for him,” said BuCor director general Ricardo Rainier Cruz. “It’s allowed considering our meager budget for meals. We allow that.”

The daily meal allowance for inmates of the bureau is P50.

While Pemberton is not availing himself of meals from the bureau, he will receive the total meal allowance on a monthly basis, Cruz said.

Cruz said 18 BuCor guards – six per shift -- are assigned to guard Pemberton in his detention facility.

He said US forces are not directly involved in securing Pemberton. The Americans, he said, are merely providing “secondary layer” security.

The Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board compound is jointly maintained by US and Filipino forces.

Asked how Pemberton is doing, Cruz said he has no information “but I think he is okay because he is detained in the same detention cell.”

Pemberton was confined in the same container van while being tried in   Olongapo.

Following Pemberton’s turnover to the custody of the bureau on Tuesday night, the US serviceman was subjected to processes which ordinary inmates undergo, including the taking of a mug shot and fingerprinting.

Cruz said Pemberton also filled out an information sheet.

“He was also given a prisoner number. He already has a prisoner number,” said Cruz, adding however that he could not remember Pemberton’s number.

Cruz said Pemberton’s lawyers have visited the inmate but not his relatives. He said Pemberton’s relatives are allowed to visit the detainee at his “medium security” cell.

Cruz confirmed that Pemberton will later be transferred to another facility inside Camp Aguinaldo, about 100 meters from his current detention place.

He was referring to the AFP Custodial Center which is being repaired and upgraded to accommodate Pemberton. The AFP Custodial Center used to house the leaders of the failed Oakwood mutiny in July 2003.

Cruz said among the upgrades being done at the AFP Custodial Center is the installation of close-circuit television and barbwires.

Asked if Pemberton’s new cell will also be air-conditioned, Cruz said: “They (Americans) may install one…They were talking about an international standard on temperature,” he said.

“It was agreed upon that the cost will be mutually shouldered…They (Americans) requested for the improvement,” Cruz added.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/bucor-says-us-supplying-pemberton%E2%80%99s-meals