PNoy assures no special treatment for Pemberton

From GMA News (Dec 5): PNoy assures no special treatment for Pemberton

AFP detention an extension of 'Bilibid'

President Benigno Auqino III has assured that Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton, who has been convicted for the killing of Filipino transgender Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude, is not receiving a special treatment from the Philippine government. "controlled by the Philippines already—has been, ‘di ba, pati ‘nung point of detention.

The facility in the AFP, sa ISAFP yata, is going to be manned by Bureau of Corrections personnel or is already being manned by Bureau of Corrections personnel," Aquino said in a briefing with Filipino journalists in Rome, Italy on Friday.

The President was visited Pope Francis in Italy, as part of his Europe trip. He had just attended the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) in Paris.

Aquion said that Pemberton's detention inside the Armed Forces' national headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City is technically "an extension of the [New] Bilibid [Prison] (NBP) and consistent with the agreement under the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement)."

A day after Pemberton was convicted and ordered jailed in the NBP, Department of National Defense spokesperson Peter Paul Galvez announced that the AFP will construct a new jail for the American soldier within the AFP Custodial Center, inside Camp Aguinaldo.

Pemberton is currently detained in an air-conditioned container van inside the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board compound, also in Camp Aguinaldo.

The cost of the new jail's construction will reportedly be shared by the US and Philippine governments.

Aquino clarified that the Philippines has to abide by the VFA, which the Philippine signed with the US government.

"By the very nature doon sa agreement na mayroong ‘agreed upon detention facility,’ sasabihin nila ‘o iba na ‘yung detention facility, special na.’ ‘Yung mga ganoong klaseng tanong wala namang kasagutang maayos e," he said.

The President said that Pemberton was treated fairly by the Philippines, based on the VFA and that the ruling against the American soldier was proof that "rule of law happens in our country."

Aquino also believes that the ruling "enhanced" the relationship between the Philippines and the US.

"Ipinakita natin na mayroon tayong korte na kayang humusga nang maayos. The rule of law happens in our country. It is respected by the other state. Therefore, it redounds to both parties’ benefits na hindi unequal. Mayroon tayong equality among two equally sovereign states na ‘pag may ginawa kang kasalanan, mayroon kang pananagutan na dapat mong pagbayaran," he said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/546867/news/nation/pnoy-assures-no-special-treatment-for-pemberton