Ex-Mayor Jalosjos jailed for robbery

Regional Trial Court Branch 10 Executive Judge Soliver Peras (back to camera) looks at the pictures of former Dapitan City Mayor Dominador Jalosjos, whose left foot was tied to the hospital bed, during a hearing. JUNJIE MENDOZA/CEBU DAILY NEWS

CEBU CITY, Philippines—After spending three weeks in a private hospital for a heart ailment, former Mayor Dominador Jalosjos of Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte province has opted to stay behind bars to serve his sentence in a 1969 highway robbery case.

Jalosjos, 72, was committed to the Cebu City jail in Barangay (village) Kalunasan here at past 11 a.m. on Friday. “We were informed and assured that he would be staying in a detention facility for senior citizens,” said his lawyer, Inocencio dela Cerna.

The owner of the high-end Dakak Beach Resort in Dapitan and brother of convicted child rapist Romeo Jalosjos was arrested while being confined at Cebu Doctors’ Hospital on Jan. 23. He was found guilty of highway robbery in Cebu City and was meted out a penalty of one year and six months’ imprisonment.

To avoid incarceration, Jalosjos filed a petition for probation, a remedy granted by law to persons convicted of an offense that carries the penalty of less than six years in jail.

The court granted his petition but canceled his probation. It ordered his arrest when he failed to comply with the requirement to regularly report to a probation officer.

Earlier, it granted Jalosjos’ request to be placed under hospital arrest while serving his sentence.

When called by the court, Jalosjos’ physician, Dr. Peter Mancao, reported that he had a “chronic wound” in the heart, which needed to be addressed to save his life. His present condition may cause infection that would lead to his death, Mancao said.

He said the wound did not heal after the former mayor underwent a triple bypass procedure in 2011 and 2012.

Dela Cerna said the doctors allowed Jalosjos to be discharged from the hospital because he could not undergo a heart surgery yet as the wound in his chest had not healed.

“It’s not practical to stay in the hospital while the schedule of the surgery has not yet been determined. At least he can save on some hospital expenses as well as his sanity,” the lawyer said.

Executive Judge Soliver Peras of the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City also issued an order that allows Jalosjos’ return to the hospital in case of an emergency even without securing first the permission of the court.

The jail warden, however, must submit a report to the court in case Jalosjos is brought out of prison.