Pia nixes pardon for Jalosjos

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today took to task President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Department of Justice (DOJ) over a reported order issued by Malacañang on April 30 that commuted the sentence of convicted child-rapist Romeo Jalosjos and would allow the former congressman of Zamboanga del Norte to go free in three years.

"I am totally dismayed by this decision to pardon Jalosjos. It smacks of this Administration's insensitivity to the rights of abused children and women," said Cayetano.

"The Jalosjos case is reflective of the government's lackluster record in prosecuting cases of violence and abuse against women and children," she said, noting that thousands of such cases are pending all over the country and remain unresolved.

Reports reaching the senator's office revealed that as of March 2007, a total of 19,835 barangays all over the country had pending cases under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act (RA 9262).

She also scored the DOJ's poor record in prosecuting VAWC cases, saying that the department was able to convict only seven out of 186 cases it received from the enactment of RA 9262 in 2003 until March 2006.

"Clearly, there has been little progress in this area. The DOJ owes the public an explanation," she said.

Cayetano also said the President and DOJ should respond to legal questions being raised about Jalosjos' eligibility for pardon.

The ex-congressman, who was convicted in 1997 for raping a minor, has served only 10 years and five months of his double life term of 80 years. But she said Jalosjos should not be up for pardon until he has served between 23 to 29 years of his sentence.

"Sure, the government has every right to commute sentences and pardon convicts who have shown exceptional behavior while in detention. But it is another question whether the prisoner has met the minimum requirements for pardon as provided under our laws."

Cayetano likewise found it ironic that news on Jalosjos' impending freedom came out today, Independence Day. "It's as if the government is unleashing the beast on advocates of children and women's rights right on Independence Day."