MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 2) Convicted rapist and former Zamboanga del Norte congressman Romeo Jalosjos walked out of the National Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City Thursday.
The Bureau of Corrections recommended a shorter jail term for Jalosjos, who was convicted of raping an 11-year-old girl.
"I became a better man...and for that I credit her," Jalosjos told reporters.
Jalosjos said there was also no need to ask for forgiveness because he would rather apologize voluntarily.
"Ako'y nahirapan, napuno ng poot at galit [It was difficult. I was filled with anger and hatred]. Taon ang nawala sa akin pero mukhang siya ang [I lost so many years but it looks like she was] meant to touch me...she touched me in a positive way," said Jalosjos in a press conference at his Wellness Center, one of the establishments he ordered built inside the New Bilibid Prisons compound.
Jalosjos said there was also no need to ask for forgiveness because he would rather apologize voluntarily.
Jalosjos also refused to answer questions on whether he was maintaining his innocence, noting that he has served his term.
"I want to move on," said Jalosjos, who weighs 275 pounds from 195 during his conviction in1996.
Jalosjos, 68, also belied claims that he was treated differently while in jail even when he had an air-conditioned room and had other special facilities.
"Hindi totoo na privileged kami [It’s not true that we were privileged]. Ako ang kawawa [I was at a disadvantage] because we were always questioned," said Jalosjos, lamenting that he was not even able to go to the hospital without media fuss.
Susan Sespene, Jalosjos’ staff member, said the ex-lawmaker would be joined by his siblings and other relatives after his “official release” from the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP).
Meanwhile, Jalosjos said that now he was out of jail, he would help his deserving former fellow inmates be freed.
He said there were other inmates whose sentences have also been commuted but were victims of the "poor justice system."
He added that he would allow other inmates to use his facilities inside the Bilibid compound, including the area where he usually stayed which would now serve as the office of Lamb of God foundation.
Like what he routinely did since his incarceration at the NBP, Sespene said the freed convict played tennis Thursday morning.
She declined to comment about the controversy regarding Jalosjos’ release, but said the former lawmaker was happy with his “newfound freedom.”
Sentenced to two life terms, Jalosjos was ordered freed Wednesday by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez based on the recommendation by the Bureau of Corrections director Oscar Calderon.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commuted on June 13, 2007 the former lawmaker’s sentence to 16 years, three months and three days.
Calderon said Jalosjos, who spent only 12 years of actual prison time, earned additional good conduct time allowance for his “good behavior” while serving time at the maximum security complex of the NBP.
