ZAMBOANGA CITY – Local officials here rallied yesterday in support of convicted child rapist Romeo Jalosjos by condemning Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez for ordering the recommitment of the former congressman despite a release order from the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP).
The local officials from the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) chapter in Zamboanga del Norte showed up wearing black armbands as they announced plans to lower the flag to half-mast in their respective towns as a sign of protest.
Dapitan City Councilor Apple Marie Agolong said a similar resolution condemning Gonzalez was also approved by the city council.
At least 20 mayors showed up in front of the San Ramon Penal Colony here where Jalosjos has been detained after his surrender last week.
The officials led by Salug town Mayor Jesus Lim wore black armbands to protest what they described as the illegal detention of Jalosjos.
Lim presided over a brief news conference outside the gates of the San Ramon Penal Colony and distributed a signed resolution they approved last Thursday condemning Gonzalez “for the implementation of his double standard justice and crippling the human rights of a person without justifiable cause.”
Lim said the order made by Gonzalez against Jalosjos was “highly condemnable and a downright deprivation of the human rights” of their former congressman.
“Indeed, he is a victim of injustice after his freedom has been certified by the Bureau of Parole and Pardon,” Sibuco Mayor Nurbi Edding added.
LMP secretary Leon Postigo Mayor Rolando Tobleza told newsmen the league also approved a resolution for the black armbands.
The armbands will stay until Jalosjos is given justice and released from detention, Tobleza said.
Tobleza said copies of the resolutions would be sent to President Arroyo, Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. and Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.
The mayors later marched half a kilometer into the penal farm and handed the resolution to Jalosjos to show their sympathy.
San Ramon prison officials admitted being confused on the status of Jalosjos since there was no order to detain the former lawmaker.
Officials, however, prevented the media from getting inside the penal colony, citing the two directives issued by the Justice Department.
Malacañang, on the other hand, downplayed the protest actions staged by the LMP, saying they might have been misinformed about the real issue on Jalosjos.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the expressions of protests were without basis and “might have been caused by misunderstanding.”
“There was an actual order stopping the release. There was an order to revoke the faulty document,” Bunye said.
“I think we should not argue based on the wrong premise,” he said.
Bunye said the protesting local officials, some of whom are Jalosjos’ relatives, may have the impression the release order brandished by the convict was legal.
Malacañang on Thursday denied it had earlier ordered the release of Jalosjos.
Jalosjos was convicted in 1997 for statutory rape and sentenced to two life terms.
President Arroyo commuted his prison sentence to just 16 years, three months and three days.
Jalosjos was given a release order by jail officials based on computation of the time the former lawmaker had served, counting allowance for good behavior.
The computation was, however, was questioned by Gonzalez in recalling the release order.
Jalosjos turned himself in a few hours after flying to Dapitan last week.
Jalosjos insisted he was legally released, carrying with him the release papers.
Jalosjos filed a writ of habeas corpus questioning his recommitment order by the Department of Justice. - With Paolo Romero