Yellow ribbons greet Jalosjos in Dapitan City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Dapiteños yesterday welcomed freed former Zamboanga del Norte congressman Romeo Jalosjos like a long, lost king.

Despite everything, Dapiteños showed how much they missed and still want Jalosjos by tying yellow ribbons on trees, posts, walls and houses from the airport in Dipolog to Dapitan and giving him a rousing welcome fit for a king.

Thousands of people went out of the streets in fiesta-like atmosphere and partook of several roasted pigs and foods prepared at the Gloria de Dapitan amusement center.

Jalosjos was teary-eyed at the warm reception and thankful to his constituents for their support even though they know he was convicted and jailed for raping a minor.

“I was overjoyed and could not hold back my emotions on the even stronger support showed by the people,” Jalosjos told reporters in Dipolog upon arriving from Manila at 9 a.m. yesterday.

It was his second time to be back in Zamboanga del Norte after he was convicted for raping an 11-year-old girl. The first was his botched release last December where he was re-arrested in Dapitan and temporarily detained in San Ramon Penal Farm in Zamboanga City then transferred back in Muntinlupa after the commutation of his sentence was questioned.

Residents and local officials attest to Jalosjos’ goodness over local radio, saying he did not neglect his people even while in jail.

Now that he is a free man, Jalosjos vowed to provide even more assistance to his townmates as a private individual.

Asked if he has intentions to return to the political arena, Jalosjos said he needs a complete pardon from the President first, to restore his civil rights.

He said now is not the time to ask Mrs. Arroyo this, and plans instead to visit his constituents in Zamboanga del Norte to find out what needs to be developed in their areas.