Jalosjos begins serving jail term amid health woes

CEBU, Philippines - Former Dapitan City mayor Dominador Jalosjos Jr., who was convicted for a robbery case 44 years ago, is now serving his jail term.

Lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna, the legal counsel of Jalosjos, told The FREEMAN that his client was brought before the City Jail yesterday at around 11a.m from the Cebu Doctor's University Hospital.

"Upon request of Mr. Jalosjos and upon motion and plea to the court, his hospital confinement is terminated and he will be brought to the BBRC to continue serving his sentence," dela Cerna said, adding his client's condition is stable but is still being monitored.

Earlier, Executive Judge Soliver Peras of the Regional Trial Court issued an order allowing Jalosjos to continue to stay in the hospital until fully recovered following the testimony of his attending physician Dr. Peter Mancao.

Jalosjos was confined at the hospital due to the open wound in his chest.

Mancao said based on the history of his client, the latter underwent triple bypass surgery at St. Luke Hospital in Taguig City in 2011. Though the operation was successful, he said a wound infection developed after the surgery.

"Now we are trying to control that infection and there will be a possible operation," he added.

Jalosjos recently requested that he be transferred to City Jail.

Dela Cerna said upon the request of his client he filed a motion before the court asking Jalosjos to be transferred to the City Jail to serve his sentence for one year and six months, which the court granted.

"Jalosjos chose to be detained in jail to lessen the costs on hospitalization while waiting for the scheduled operation," he added.

Peras on Nov. 9, 2013 issued a warrant of arrest against Jalosjos after his conviction for robbery case dated April 30, 1970 by then Circuit Criminal Court. Now, the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City has attained its finality.

Dela Cerna likewise said that there is no definite time when the operation of Jalosjos be conducted because the doctor is still waiting for the wound to heal.

However, he said anytime Jalosjos needs medication, Peras already ordered that he be brought immediately to the hospital without asking permission from the court.

Jalosjos voluntarily surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group -7 early this year.

Jalosjos was not placed behind bars because after his conviction he applied for probation, although he failed to follow the terms and conditions, prompting the cancellation and the enforcement of his arrest. —/JMD (FREEMAN)