Philippine president pardons US marine in transgender killing
US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton (centre) in 2015 when he was convicted him of homicide.
Photo credit: Ted Aljibe | Pool | AFP
What you need to know:
Duterte's pardon clears all legal obstacles to his release, despite him serving just half his 10-year sentence.
The Laude family lawyer condemned the decision, calling it a "mockery" of the country's justice system.
The pardon has renewed anti-American sentiment in the Southeast Asian nation.
Manila
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has granted an absolute pardon to a US marine convicted of killing a transgender woman, officials said Monday, drawing condemnation from rights groups.
