Convicted child rapist Jalosjos seeks presidential pardon

Former Zamboanga Del Norte congressman Romeo Jalosjos is asking for absolute pardon from his statutory rape conviction that prevents him from returning to public office. 

According to the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP), Jalosjos is one of the 36 convicts seeking executive clemency from President Rodrigo Duterte this year.

“Any interested party may send his/her written objections/comments/information relevant to the cases of above-named prisoners to the undersigned not later than 30 days from date of publication,” said BPP executive director Reynaldo Bayang in a public notice on Thursday.

Found guilty by a Makati City court of raping an 11-year-old girl in 1996, Jalosjos was freed from the New Bilibid Prison in March 2009 on a commuted sentence.

He tried to return to politics in 2013 but his candidacy for Zamboanga City mayor was nullified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the ground that the penalty imposed on him includes perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The Supreme Court later stood by the Comelec's decision. 

If Jalosjos gets executive clemency, he would be able to run again since the penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office would be extinguished. 

Under the 1987 Constitution, the President is empowered to grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons, and remit fines and forfeitures, to prisoners after conviction by final judgment. 

Applicants for pardon or parole go through a vetting process by the BPP, an attached agency of the Department of Justice, which in turn, makes recommendations to the President for his approval. —KG, GMA News