MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang has yet to decide on the application for absolute pardon of former congressman Romeo Jaloslos, who was convicted of raping an 11-year-old girl, a Palace official said.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the recommendation for such an application has yet to reach President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“We vehemently deny we are endorsing such application. . . . In so far as we are concerned, at this stage, it is not yet at the level of the Office of the President,” he said in the weekly press briefing in Malacañang, which was aired live over government station Radyo ng Bayan.

Remonde assured that the decision on Jalosjos’ case would be “solidly based on merits,” stressing that the President is “always a woman first as second as a President” when she ponders on the issue.

Reports have said that Jaloslos applied for an absolute pardon so that he could run again in the May 2010 elections.

Jaloslos, then representative of Zamboanga del Norte, was convicted in 1997 by the Makati regional trial court and was sentenced to two life terms. Since the conviction was not yet final he was able to seek reelection in 1998 and 2001 even behind bars.

He was finally removed from the roster of the House of Representatives in 2002 when the Supreme Court affirmed his conviction.

Arroyo commuted his sentence to 16 years, three months and three days in June 2007.

Reports said that Jaloslos applied before the Board of Pardons and Parole on September 30. It said further that the Office of the President had endorsed or transmitted Jalosjos’ application to the BPP on October 22 for evaluation and recommendation as to his eligibility for absolute pardon.

Remonde said Jalosjos’ application would be treated like any other case. He said the recommendation of the BPP would be approved or disapproved by the Justice Secretary, who would then make the endorsement to Malacañang.