Bishops: 'Power politics' behind Jalosjos commutation

06/16/2007 | 12:06 PM

Manila-- Despite Malacañang’s repeated denials, Catholic bishops suspect politics was behind President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s decision to commute the sentence of convicted rapist and former Zamboanga del Norte congressman Romeo Jalosjos.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care (ECPPC) executive director Rodolfo Diamante said the act also shows the “bias" of the administration towards known political allies.

“Obviously it’s political because how come Jalosjos was given that privilege and denied the others who are more deserving," Diamante said in a statement posted on the CBCP website (www.cbcponline.net).

Diamante cited reports indicating that Jalosjos got special treatment in exchange for delivering the votes to the administration’s Team Unity in his turf in the May 14 polls.

He said presidential power for granting of executive clemency should be used to be able to give justice to the people regardless of the position in society.

But with what happened, he said Arroyo’s move was a “big blow" into the country’s justice system.

“It shows that as long as you have the power and influence you’re given privilege and the justice system has been criticized as always tilted in favor of the rich and powerful," he said.

“There’s something wrong here. They exercise the executive privilege only to those who are giving benefits to the administration," he added.

Diamante said there are more deserving prisoners, sick and much older than Jalosjos, who should be granted with such privilege but the government has not been acting on them.

“We would appreciate it very much if the President will look into these more deserving people without certain kind of power and influence to be given such kind of executive privilege," he said.

Jalosjos, 66, a former Zamboanga del Norte congressman, was convicted in 1996 for raping an 11-year old girl and sentenced to an additional 15 years for each of the six counts of acts of lasciviousness. He has so far served 13 years in jail.

Diamante noted executive secretary Eduardo Ermita said Jalosjos was among the 10 convicts whose sentences were reduced by Arroyo after the recommendation of the Board of Pardon and Parole as approved by the Department of Justice last April 30.

Ermita claimed Jalosjos deserves to be commuted because he is already old and sickly.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye added there was nothing irregular in granting Jalosjos a commutation of sentence since this has also been done for several other convicts.

For his part, ECPPC chairman Bishop Pedro Arigo found Bunye’s statement “surprising" and “so shallow."

He said commutation of sentences may decongest jails but this should depend on the convict’s attitudes towards reformation. - GMANews.TV