Palace still rattling over Jalosjos unauthorized release

Apart from commuting his double life sentences, Malacañang on Thursday insisted that it never ordered the release of former Zamboanga del Norte lawmaker Romeo Jalosjos. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol also denied knowledge of any issuance of Jalosjos’s discharge order, which supposedly served as basis for the convicted rapist to leave the national penitentiary for Dapitan last December 22. Deputy spokesman Anthony Golez said an investigation on how Jalosjos was released from jail is now being conducted by the Department of Justice. “The Palace never ordered the release of former Representative Romeo Jalosjos. There was a commutation order that would make him eligible for release at age 70. The actions taken by the BuCor (Bureau of Corrections) in implementing this order is now under investigation by the [Department of Justice]," he said. Apostol said he is not aware of a supposed discharge order for Jalosjos dated December 13 that. The disputed discharge order triggered the sacking of BuCor Director Ricardo Dapat. Former National Police chief Oscar Calderon has been named new BuCor head. “I really do not know about it. But there was such a recommendation coming from (the Secretary of Justice), for his relief… She (President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) acted on the recommendation," he said. He said other heads may roll aside from Dapat but all would depend on the results of the on going investigation. Apostol clarified that Jalosjos was never given pardon but a commutation of his double life sentence to 16 years in prison, which according to the Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has yet to be completed. “Ang pinag-uusapan natin full service of sentence. We are not talking of pardon here. We are not talking of executive clemency or amnesty. We are just talking of full service of sentence. And according to Jalosjos, he has fully served the sentence. The DOJ said no, you have not served your sentence yet, it still lacks a number of years for full service," he said. Apostol said the BuCor should coordinate its actions with the DOJ in the future to avoid a repeat of the Jalosjos incident. He said BuCor should also have its rules and regulations approved by the DOJ, which has administrative supervision over them. “If they release a prisoner who has fully served the sentence, adding the so-called good behavior conduct, then the DOJ and the BuCor should have one common rule. As of today, apparently there is a disagreement between the DOJ and the BuCor because the BuCor is saying they have their own rules which were not approved by the DOJ and the DOJ is just following the provisions of the revised penal code," he said. He added that this lack of coordination “caused the loss of job of Dapat." Jalosjos flew to Dapitan on December 22 claiming that he was already a free man. He was rearrested on December 23. The former congressman was convicted of two counts of statutory rape in 1997 and six counts of acts of lasciviousness on an 11-year-old girl. In April 2007, upon the recommendation of the DOJ, Malacañang commuted Jalosjos’ sentence to 16 years, three months and three days. - GMANews.TV