‘Apologetic’ Jalosjos insists he's not a rapist
MANILA, Philippines – Convicted child rapist Romeo Jalosjos has apologized to his victim but continued to deny that there was an attempt to rape her.
In a television interview Friday, Jalosjos only apologized for “certain act of lasciviousness" perpetrated on the victim. The former Zamboanga del Norte representative also extended his apology to his family.
"[I apologize] to everybody including my immediate family that certain act of lasciviousness has been committed and that includes also the victim because it was committed to her," Jalosjos told Tina Panganiban-Perez in an interview aired over QTV’s “News on Q."
“But I would not certainly agree that there was any attempt at all to rape her," he added, referring to the victim, who was 11 years old when Jalosjos reportedly raped her in 1996.
Jalosjos said he would file a petition before the Supreme Court to reopen the case. He said he and his lawyers had agreed on this even before he was released last week.
Jalosjos said they have substantial evidence that was not presented during the trial.
"We have strongly feel that we have such inconvertible and very important evidence that could hopefully convince the Supreme Court to allow me for a retrial that will hopefully erase that stigma that I am a rapist," he said.
Jalosjos was officially freed last Thursday after he was imprisoned in 1996 for two counts of statutory rape and six counts of acts of lasciviousness. He said he never forced himself on the victim and that she was not 11 at the time of the said crime.
"The victim according to the mother was almost thirteen years old or rather more than thirteen years old," he said.
Under the law, statutory rape covers only victims who are 12 years old or younger.
But the victim's lawyer, Lourdes-Cruz Matters, said Jalosjos would just be wasting his time filing for a reopening of the case because the victim’s real age had been established in court during the trial.
She also said that what Jalosjos wanted falls under double jeopardy, or trying the person for the same crime, which is prohibited under the law.
"You cannot try a person for the same crime. Tapos na eh. Na-convict na siya. Ano pang papatunayan naming [He’s already been convicted. What else is there to prove]? "Matters said, adding that Jalosjos only wants to get absolute pardon from President Arroyo so that he could run for public office again.
Jalosjos contested Matter’s argument and even urged her to “study her Law."
"If I am still convicted for the acts of lasciviousness and not be convicted of the rape, I cannot still run. She better study her Law," he said. - GMANews.TV
In a television interview Friday, Jalosjos only apologized for “certain act of lasciviousness" perpetrated on the victim. The former Zamboanga del Norte representative also extended his apology to his family.
"[I apologize] to everybody including my immediate family that certain act of lasciviousness has been committed and that includes also the victim because it was committed to her," Jalosjos told Tina Panganiban-Perez in an interview aired over QTV’s “News on Q."
“But I would not certainly agree that there was any attempt at all to rape her," he added, referring to the victim, who was 11 years old when Jalosjos reportedly raped her in 1996.
Jalosjos said he would file a petition before the Supreme Court to reopen the case. He said he and his lawyers had agreed on this even before he was released last week.
Jalosjos said they have substantial evidence that was not presented during the trial.
"We have strongly feel that we have such inconvertible and very important evidence that could hopefully convince the Supreme Court to allow me for a retrial that will hopefully erase that stigma that I am a rapist," he said.
Jalosjos was officially freed last Thursday after he was imprisoned in 1996 for two counts of statutory rape and six counts of acts of lasciviousness. He said he never forced himself on the victim and that she was not 11 at the time of the said crime.
"The victim according to the mother was almost thirteen years old or rather more than thirteen years old," he said.
Under the law, statutory rape covers only victims who are 12 years old or younger.
But the victim's lawyer, Lourdes-Cruz Matters, said Jalosjos would just be wasting his time filing for a reopening of the case because the victim’s real age had been established in court during the trial.
She also said that what Jalosjos wanted falls under double jeopardy, or trying the person for the same crime, which is prohibited under the law.
"You cannot try a person for the same crime. Tapos na eh. Na-convict na siya. Ano pang papatunayan naming [He’s already been convicted. What else is there to prove]? "Matters said, adding that Jalosjos only wants to get absolute pardon from President Arroyo so that he could run for public office again.
Jalosjos contested Matter’s argument and even urged her to “study her Law."
"If I am still convicted for the acts of lasciviousness and not be convicted of the rape, I cannot still run. She better study her Law," he said. - GMANews.TV
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