US to continue following VFA following Pemberton's conviction -embassy

From GMA News (Dec 2): US to continue following VFA following Pemberton's conviction -embassy

The US Embassy in Manila vowed to proceed in compliance with the Visiting Forces Agreement after an Olongapo City court convicted an American participant in a joint military exerices in the Philippines of killing a Filipino transgender woman more than a year ago.

In a short statement released on Tuesday, the embassy withheld further comment as regards the conviction of Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton for homicide in connection with the killing of Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude.

"The Embassy notes that the Olongapo Regional Trial Court Branch 74 has reached a decision in the case of Lance Corporal Pemberton," the embassy said.

 "We will continue to proceed in full compliance with the Visiting Forces Agreement," it added.

US forces in military exercises in the Philippines are covered by the VFA, which provides among others that American soldiers convicted of crime in the Philippines shall be detained in a facility agreed upon by the governments of the two countries.

The court on Tuesday in sentencing Pemberton to six to 12 years in prison initially committed Pemberton to the New Bilibid Prison, where most of the country's convicts are imprisoned.

It, however, issued another order later in the day ordering Pemberton's imprisonment at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Custodial Center inside Camp Aguinaldo.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the custodial center was the detention facility the Philippine and US governments agreed on as regards Pemberton's imprisonment.

Defense lawyers for Pemberton said they will appeal the guilty verdict for homicide against the US serviceman.

In an interview on Tuesday night, lead defense counsel Rowena Flores said they will file their motion before the Court of Appeals within 15 days.

"Hindi po victory yon dahil ayon po sa evidence dapat talaga mapawalang-sala si Pemberton. Hindi po nila naibigay yung tamang amount ng ebidensiya para sa conviction," Flores said.

She added that Pemberton was not satisfied by the decision, and would appeal the ruling for a full acquittal. 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/546437/news/nation/us-to-continue-following-vfa-following-pemberton-s-conviction-embassy