Jalosjos walks out of New Bilibid Prison a free man

Romeo Jalosjos, a former Zamboanga del Norte congressman convicted of raping an 11-year-old girl in 1996, was reportedly released from the National Bilibid Prison early Sunday, GMA News's Weekend Report said. According to the report, Jalosjos’s son Bullet claimed that the former lawmaker left the NBP past midnight. GMA News also received a copy of Jalosjos’s supposed discharge certificate from the lawmaker’s secretary Susan Arguelles. It was signed by Penal Supt. lV Juanito L. Leopando. GMA News could not get a confirmation from Leopando and other NBP officials because they were unavailable for comment early Sunday. “It’s about time he should be released. For 13 years my father had been showing good conduct in prison," Jalosjos’s son told GMA News in a phone interview. Malacañang, the Department of Justice and the Board of Pardons and Parole have no confirmation of Jalosjos’s release. When news broke out last December 6 that Jalosjos may be released before Christmas, both the Palace and the DOJ issued a denial, saying the former lawmaker is only eligible for release next year. The BPP, on the other hand, said Jalosjos will still serve four more years in prison. NBP chaplain Fr. Roberto Olaguer earlier disclosed to reporters at a news forum that Jalosjos will be a free man on December 16 after serving a reduced sentence of 16 years for rape. Jalosjos’s original sentence was double life imprisonment, but President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, upon recommendation of the BPP, reduced the penalty to 16 years earlier this year, according to Olaguer. “Jalosjos would be finishing his 16-year term in November 2008 yet, but because he showed good conduct, he would go home nearly a year earlier," Olaguer told reporters during the forum. Olaguer explained the law allows the further shortening of a reduced sentence if a convict displayed good behavior. Jalosjos was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of two counts of statutory rape and six counts of acts of lasciviousness in December 1997. The Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's decision sentencing Jalosjos to two reclusion perpetua. He was also ordered to pay the additional amount of P50,000 as civil indemnity for each count of statutory rape and acts of lasciviousness. As well, the high court increased to P50,000 the award of moral damages for each count of acts of lasciviousness that Jalosjos committed.- GMANews.TV