Jalosjos out, barred from seeking public office

MANILA, Philippines - After more than a decade of serving time for raping a minor, former Zamboanga del Norte congressman Romeo Jalosjos was freed from prison yesterday but is barred from seeking public office.

“He cannot run again unless he is given absolute pardon by the President,” Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor, chairman of the House committee on justice, told The STAR yesterday.

Jalosjos was ordered freed Wednesday after completing a commuted 16-year sentence.

He said Jalosjos’ conviction carried with it the “subsidiary penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office.”

“If it was stated in the decision of the trial court that he was perpetually disqualified from seeking public elective post then he can no longer run,” Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said.

Even while in detention and his conviction was under review by the Supreme Court, the convicted rapist won a new term as a member of the House of Representatives in 1998.

He did not finish his term because the House expelled him when the high tribunal affirmed his conviction.

In 2001, his sister-in-law, Cecilia Carreon-Jalosjos, succeeded him as representative of Zamboanga del Norte’s first district. She is now on her third and last term.

Jalosjos’ brother Cesar won as representative of the third district in 2004. He is on his second term.

The Jalosjoses are allies of President Arroyo, but Malacañang insists there’s no politics in Mrs. Arroyo’s decision to reduce the convicted rapist’s two life sentences.

There is an incumbent member of the House who was convicted of arson and, like Jajosjos, was sentenced to two life terms. However, unlike Jalosjos, Rep. Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo of the first district of Quezon City, was given absolute pardon.

Another pardoned convict who was a member of the House until 2007 was Luis “Baby” Asistio of Caloocan City. He was convicted of kidnapping-for-ransom. He belonged to the dreaded “Big Four” crime group during the Marcos years.

The most famous convict who received presidential pardon is former President Joseph Estrada.

Pardoned by President Arroyo, who took over from him in 2001 when people power forced him from office amid a corruption scandal, Estrada now plans to run for the highest office again in next year’s elections. He is among the most popular potential presidential candidates.

Right to vote

Saying he’s now a “changed man,” Jalosjos appealed to President Arroyo to grant him absolute pardon so he could vote again.

“If I have to beg Malacañang so that I will be able to vote, then I will do that. When I was imprisoned, I lost all my political rights. If I will be given absolute pardon, these rights will then be restored,” Jalosjos said.

“I am a changed man. I see many things differently now. I now understand the sentiments of the inmates. I sympathize with them and their plight,” Jalosjos said at a news briefing held at the spa and wellness center he owns inside the NBP compound.

“I have more patience now unlike before. I thank God that he still retained my physical strength after all these years of being detained, and because of this, I will still be able to help those who I will leave inside,” he said.

Asked if he had sought pardon from his victim, Jalosjos said, “No, I never asked. I haven’t seen her, only her lawyers.” He added: “It seemed that she has become the means so ‘I’ll be touched.’ I should be touched in a positive way to become a positive man.”

Jalosjos reiterated that he would ask media and Congress to help improve prison conditions as well as correctional rules.

“What we have now are obsolete rules. The prisoners comprise one sector that has been neglected by the government. Something must be done,” he said.

Jalosjos also said that the facilities that he helped set up within the NBP compound would be kept. The facilities include a wellness center, tennis academy and a bakery.

“These are businesses that have been benefiting many families inside. We will not close these down just because I’m already free. These have proven to be profitable ventures and through these, we are able to help many people,” he noted.

Bureau of Corrections Director Oscar Calderon praised Jalosjos for his contribution to improving the living conditions at the NBP.

Commission on Human Rights chairperson Leila de Lima paid the NBP a visit yesterday to check on reports of the sordid prison condition as well as the VIP treatment enjoyed by some prisoners.

“We will check if this is taking place and up to what extent.”

Reacting to Jalosjos’ release, De Lima said, “I just hope it is in conformity with the rules and guidelines that govern the Board of Pardons and Parole.” 

Father of perpetual help

NBP chaplain Fr. Bobby Olaguer yesterday told Church-run Radio Veritas that Jalosjos is called Ama ng Laging Saklolo (Father of Perpetual Help) by other prisoners and NBP personnel because of his readiness to help.

“In fairness to Jalosjos, he has been very supportive to the chapel. He also hears Mass every Sunday and people have seen that he has regretted his actions… That is one way of showing that he has been contrite in asking forgiveness for his sins,” said Fr. Olaguer.

“There are many ways to show repentance and I guess we will just have to wait how he would behave once he is released from prison,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) urged Jalosjos to make good his promise to be a better individual.

“We don’t have any opposition (to his release), he has served his sentence,” VACC founding chairman Dante Jimenez said.

But the group called on Jalosjos to “humble himself and categorically say that he will reform and make sure na hindi na maulit ulit yun (it will not happen again),” referring to his rape of a minor.

Jimenez said the victim, now an adult and staying abroad, is living a normal life and has not been in touch with them for quite some time. - With Rhodina Villanueva, Evelyn Macairan, and Michael Punongbayan