Jalosjos may soon be free - Bureau of Corrections

Convicted rapist Romeo Jalosjos can be released from prison if the Department of Justice (DOJ) approves his request to be granted the status of “penal colonist.”

Superintendent Bartolome Bustamante, head executive assistant of Bureau of Corrections Director Oscar Calderon, said they have recommended to the DOJ last Dec. 24 to immediately act on Jalosjos’ request.

“If his appeal will be acted upon and will be confirmed by the (DOJ), then an estimated one year, six months and 17 days will be credited to his served sentence, making him eligible for release,” he said.

The status of penal colonist is obtained if an inmate showed good behavior in prison, or if he has not violated any prison rule or regulation.

Last Jan. 1, 2008, Jalosjos had been credited for two years, nine months and 27 days by the DOJ. In a two-page memorandum for Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Calderon said: “Along with the actual time served and usual/regular (good conduct time allowance) shown in their computation, plus the colonist GCTA credit, is sufficient to cover the commuted sentence of 16 years, three months and three days.”

The GCTA and the “penal colonist status” obtained by Jalosjos made him eligible for release supposedly last Dec.16, 2007. Jalosjos was released but the DOJ ordered him to return to prison, saying it will conduct a recomputation of his sentence.

Jalosjos was convicted by a Makati court in 1997 for two counts of statutory rap and acts of lasciviousness committed against a minor. He has been serving his sentence for 11 years, 10 months and 29 days as of Dec. 16, 2008.   – Rhodina Villanueva