Joson to fellow Ecijano Jimenez: Face the music

CABANATUAN CITY — Nueva Ecija Gov. Tomas Joson III has this piece of unsolicited advice to embattled Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez, a fellow Novo Ecijano: Face the music.

"Kung wala siyang kasalanan, pinakamaganda na harapin niya ang kaso (If he has a clean conscience, it would be best that he face the case)," Joson told reporters during the inauguration of the new municipal hall of San Leonardo the other day.

Unknown to many, Jimenez is actually from Nueva Ecija. Mario Crespo in real life, Jimenez has his roots in Cabiao town and used to live in Barangay San Roque there.

Jimenez is a relative of Gregorio Crespo who served as Cabiao mayor for 22 years. The elder Crespo is the father of incumbent Cabiao Mayor Gloria Crespo-Congco.

Curiously, another prominent townmate of Jimenez is National Bureau of Investigation director Reynaldo Wycoco who earlier said the congressman may set up his office at the NBI compound.

Jimenez also has relatives in Peñaranda, another Nueva Ecija town.

Jimenez is facing extradition to the United States where he was indicted for tax evasion, mail fraud and illegal contributions to the campaign of former US President Bill Clinton. If convicted, he may be sentenced to a maximum of 102 years in jail.

If Jimenez really thinks he is innocent, Joson said it would be better for him if he would initiate voluntary extradition.

"Kung kaso ’yan, dapat harapin (If that’s a case, then he should face it)," said Joson, who himself spent more than three years at the Camp Crame detention center in connection with the April 1995 gunslaying of former Cabanatuan mayor Honorato Perez Sr.

The governor and his younger brother, Quezon Mayor Mariano Cristino, were later acquitted of the charges.

While his sympathy goes to Jimenez, Joson said justice goes beyond international territories. "He is my kababayan but the problem is he is not facing any case here in Nueva Ecija, but in another country. And besides, I cannot do anything about his case," he said.

Joson said Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. was right in appealing to Jimenez to spare the House from the scandal.

Voting 8-6, the Supreme Court recently ruled that Jimenez must be held without bail pending his possible extradition to the US. The tribunal canceled his P1-million bail.