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Monday, December 17, 2007
Jalosjos has not been released: official
MANILA -- Convicted rapist and former Zamboanga del Norte congressman Romeo Jalosjos remained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa after Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales stopped his release from jail early Sunday morning, said Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye.
Jalosjos was not freed despite the signing of his release orders by Bureau of Corrections Director Ricardo Dapat after a directive from Gonzales for the ex-congressman to remain in prison while his case is being reviewed, upon the instructions of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, added Bunye.
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Dapat said the prison has reviewed the case of Jalosjos and has come to the conclusion that the sentence imposed on the former lawmaker has expired and he can be set free.
Jalosjos was handed a double life sentence, imposed by a lower court and affirmed by the Supreme Court (SC), for raping an 11-year-old girl in 1996. Arroyo, upon recommendation of the BPP, reduced Jalosjos' penalty to 16 years earlier this year.
Dapat denied reports earlier Sunday of the release of Jalosjos, which had the former congressman's son Bullet as source, saying he is still in his dormitory inside the prison’s minimum security compound.
An anti-crime group has criticized the decision to release Jalosjos, saying it sends a bad signal to criminals in the country.
Good record
The younger Jalosjos, however, said his father deserved to be released considering his good record in the prison, where he founded the Lamb of God Foundation to look after the medical needs of inmates, particularly the elderly.
Malacañang, through Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, said on Saturday there was no document from the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) recommending Romeo’s release.
He said as a “living-in” inmate, the former congressman can move around freely within the NBP compound, but not outside it.
But there have been persistent reports that he was released early Sunday morning. Reports said the former legislator and his family were seen attending a 4 a.m. mass but Dapat said the church was located inside the NBP compound.
News of Romeo’s impending release first hogged the headline last December 6 when Bilibid chaplain, Fr. Robert Olaguer, disclosed to the media that the former legislator will be a free man by December 16 after serving a reduced sentence of 16 years.
Lower penalty
Olaguer said that because of Romeo’s good conduct inside the prison, his scheduled release in November 2008 would be moved earlier.
He said the law allows the further shortening of a reduced sentence if a convict displays good behavior.
Romeo was found guilty of two counts of statutory rape and six counts of acts of lasciviousness in December 1997 by the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC).
The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption has criticized Romeo’s release and said it might embolden criminals and erode the country’s criminal justice system. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (December 17, 2007 issue)
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