YOUTH groups denounced the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to grant absolute pardon to American soldier Joseph Scott Pemberton.

Pemberton was convicted for killing Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude in 2014. He was meted a 10-year sentence but the regional trial court in Olongapo City ordered his release last week citing his good behavior.

Various groups, using the hashtags #KeepPembertonInJail #JusticeForJenniferLaude #JunkVFA, took to social media to protest the grant of pardon to the Marine, saying it is a “disregard of justice.”

“Bahaghari-UP Baguio Chapter vehemently condemns this blatant manifestation of the administration’s complete disregard of justice for its people. This proves once more that the Philippines is being controlled by the imperialist United States,” the LGBTQIA+ said.

A group of Political Science students at the University of the Philippines also slammed the decision.

“Malinaw ang mensaheng pinababatid nito sa atin: nananatiling tuta ng Estados Unidos ang Pilipinas sa kabila ng pinapakitang pagkapit ni Pangulong Duterte sa China. Sa ilalim ng VFA, binibigyan ng espesyal na pribilehiyo ang mga sundalong Amerikanong nakatapak sa ating bansa,” the UP Association of Political Science Majors said.

The UP Babaylan, the oldest LGBTQI student organization in the Philippines and Asia noted that Pemberton’s early release shows that American soldiers can get away with murder in the country.

“President Duterte’s pardon of Pemberton sends out a loud and clear message that a Filipino trans woman’s life does not matter, that it is open season for discrimination and violence against transgender people, and that American soldiers will continue to get away with murder in Philippine soil.”

The LGBTQIA+ community along with multi-sectoral militant groups  also launched an online protest to condemn Pemberton’s release.

Various student organizations also stormed social media to show their disgust.

“We strongly denounce the grant of absolute pardon to Joseph Scott Pemberton. This is a strong disregard for Filipino life,” they said on a Facebook post.

The groups said that the presidential pardon was unacceptable because “life can never be replaced.”

“We strongly express our disapproval and disappointment over the lack of transparency regarding Pemberton’s alleged good conduct and participation in Camp Aguinaldo,” they added.