Monday, September 7, 2020

Du30 grants absolute pardon to pemberton. September 8, 2020

NO ‘FAN’ OF COVID-19 A staff member of handicraft shop Tesoros opens a fan with a message for the times. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

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DOH warns against 'complacency' in COVID-19 fight

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said the COVID-19 situation was “improving,” but it was not yet saying the health crisis was over as it might make people drop health standards that had been imposed to curb the transmission of the new coronavirus. —STORY BY Jovic Yee

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Brexit in crisis as UK threatens divorce pact

LONDON—Brexit trade talks plunged into crisis on Monday after Britain warned the European Union that it could effectively override the divorce deal it signed unless the bloc agrees to a free trade deal by Oct. 15. —STORY BY REUTERS

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ADB grant sought to secure learning kits for poor students in remote areas

The Philippines is in talks with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a grant that will help students in far-flung areas secure learning materials that were made inaccessible by the COVID-19 pandemic. —STORY BY Ben O. de Vera

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Du30 grants absolute pardon to pemberton

By Julie M. Aurelio, Dona Z. Pazzibugan and Joanna Rose Aglibot@Team_Inquirer

President Duterte has granted “absolute pardon” to US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton amid public fury over an Olongapo City court order for the American’s release before completing his prison term of six to 10 years for the 2014 killing of Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said there was no need for Mr. Duterte to explain his actions when asked why the President pardoned Pemberton.

“There is no need for him to give a reason … That is one of the most presidential of all presidential powers, the grant of pardon and parole,” he said.

In a taped press briefing aired on Monday night, Mr. Duterte defended his decision, saying the country “did not treat him [Pemberton] fairly” when one considers the “presumption” of his “good character” as well as questions prevailing over his actual prison time.

Mr. Duterte said he consulted with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra before deciding on pardoning Pemberton.

Pemberton’s release was ordered by Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde of the Olongapo Regional Trial Court’s Branch 74 on Sept. 1. Jabalde ruled that the American serviceman had served his maximum jail term with good conduct time allowance (GCTA) credits.

On Monday, Jabalde began hearing the motion filed by the Laude family, asking the court to reconsider its order. Virgie Lacsa-Suarez, lawyer for the family, said the court “committed grave mistake and inexcusable negligence when full credit of GCTA was given to Pemberton without even requiring proof of good conduct.” —INQ

Editorial

Increase, not slash, agri funds

Under the 2021 National Expenditure Program, the Department of Budget and Management provided a Tier 1 budget ceiling of P61 billion for agriculture next year. That amount is 17 percent less than the Department of Agriculture’s current budget of P79.9 billion, and a pittance compared to the P284.4 billion budget for 2021 the department had asked for to support growth in the agriculture and fisheries sector amid the crippling economic effects of the pandemic.

Read full story: opinion.inquirer.net