Malaya
Dec. 28, 2007
NOW he’s talking.
Former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director Ricardo Dapat yesterday said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita was aware of the impending release of convicted child rapist Romeo Jalosjos as early as June 12, 2007.
Dapat, in an interview over the ABS-CBN News Channel, said he had informed Edwin Enrile, a lawyer connected with Office of the Executive Secretary, about the expiration of Jalosjos’ sentence.
Dapat said he told Enrile that they “could do nothing else” but to release Jalosjos and that the lawyer did not disagree.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez denied any knowledge of any communication between Dapat and Ermita.
He maintained that no final approval had been given to set Jalosjos free.
Gonzalez on Wednesday confirmed that President Arroyo sacked Dapat and replaced him with former PNP chief Oscar Calderon.
Dapat also denied allegations he was negligent in the performance of his duty.
Dapat said he might have been made a “sacrificial lamb”.
Recalling the events of last week, Dapat said he even tasked a prison security officer to make sure that Jalosjos was in his quarters at the national penitentiary on Friday night last week.
Dapat said Jalosjos called him up when he was already in Dapitan. He said he asked the former congressman why he escaped but the latter stressed he was already a free man.
He said in his nearly five-month stint, only two other inmates were able to escape.
He said Gonzalez informed him that he had been relieved Wednesday afternoon and even offered him the chance to resign rather than be fired.
Dapat admitted that Jalosjos’ status as a “living-out” inmate might have made it easier for him to leave the NBP compound.
Inmates who enjoy that status and those scheduled for release are typically given the privilege to roam the compound but are mandated to report to the prison officials at least twice a day.
Jalosjos was sentenced to two life terms for statutory rape in 1997.
Last April, his sentence was commuted by President Arroyo to 16 years.
Jalosjos stirred a controversy last Dec. 15 when he showed reporters a “release order” purportedly signed by NBP chief Juanito Leopando.
He “escaped” from the NBP last Saturday and arrived at Dapitan city, Zamboanga del Norte on a private plane.
He was re-arrested the next day and remanded to the San Ramon penal colony.
Gonzalez said that he is awaiting the results of an “expanded” investigation into Jalosjos’ “escape.”
He hinted that Leopando is among those being investigated.
Malacañang never ordered the release of Jalosjos, deputy spokesman Anthony Golez said.
“There was a commutation order that would make him eligible for release at age 70. The actions taken by the BuCor in implementing this order are now under investigation by the DOJ,” he said.
Chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Apostol said he was not aware of a supposed discharge order for Jalosjos.
He clarified that Jalosjos was never given pardon but a commutation of his double life sentence.
“Ang pinag-uusapan natin full service of sentence. We are not talking of pardon. We are not talking of executive clemency or amnesty. We are just talking of full service of sentence. And according to Jalosjos, he has fully served the sentence. The DOJ said no, you have not served your sentence yet, it still lacks a number of years for full service,” he said.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz urged President to punish more people in the Jalosjos mess.
“His (Dapat) immediate subordinates should follow because hindi naman pwede na the head will be chopped off while the arms and legs will remain alive. The fiasco is not only the doing of the head but also of the other personnel there,” Cruz said.
Cruz said the “open” secret of “big time” inmates having distinct advantages should come to an end and that it could start with the replacement of security officials at the NBP. – Anthony Ian Cruz, Ashzel Hachero, Jocelyn Montemayor and Gerard Naval