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No to clemency for convicted rapist Romeo Jalosjos

GABRIELA regards rape as a deadly sin against women. It has been used by men in position against defenseless girls and women. It is also used by the military to prove the powerlessness of girls and women and to humiliate their communities. Despite the Anti-Rape Law, this sexual violence continues to happen at an alarming rate. Every 76 minutes, one girl or woman falls victim. The Baguio City Police Office reported a steady increase of rape cases from 10 cases in 2001 to 17 cases in 2002 and 25 cases in 2003. Rape cases are hardly reported because of the prevailing attitude that it is a private matter. Thus, we assume that there are more than what is actually reported to the police or to any concerned organization.

The shocking news came after new year’s day when Secretary Raul Gonzalez of the Department of Justice announced the possible granting of conditional pardon with parole to ex-congressman Romeo Jalosjos.

We in Innabuyog-Gabriela Cordillera add our voices to women and children’s rights advocates in opposing the granting of executive clemency to convicted child rapist Romeo Jalosjos. Thi is a travesty of justice. The fact that Jalosjos enjoys special privileges while in prison is already insulting. The idea of granting clemency to Jalosjos is an even greater insult and affront to our sense of morality and justice especially, as it is being considered in the highest office of the land, and by a woman president at that!

In the case of Jalojos, a known GMA ally, it is obvious that political motives rather than pure humanitarian reasons are behind the moves for his untimely release. Let the victim and those like her experience a little peace knowing that Jalosjos is serving his sentence. In the name of the victims of violence, let Jalosjos stay in prison.

Jalosjos was convicted of raping a child while he was in power.

It was a significant victory for women and children victims of violence. If not for the organized actions of concerned women and citizens, the victim would not have triumphed in the face of a powerful abuser who wielded every force of influence to evade punishment for his crime. There would have been more victims if Jalosjos was not convicted. The sentence he is serving now is not enough to ease the trauma suffered by the victim.

Such crime will never be erased from the memory of the child. Releasing Jalosjos is adding insult to injury and refreshing the pain and wound suffered by the young victim.

Many more prisoners are unjustly detained and are suffering. Nationwide, there are five women political prisoners. Being poor and lacking connections to the powers-that-be, they cannot afford the high cost of legal counsel. Political prisoners unjustly convicted without strong evidence of the crime they did not commit, continue to languish in jail. Donato Continente for example is charged with the killing of Col. James Rowe, a Joint US-RP Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG) officer. He has been imprisoned for 12 years now. He deserves immediate release but the U.S. government continues to prevent this supposed gesture of goodwill of the government in the formal peace negotiations. Continente and over 200 political prisoners are unjustly imprisoned. Here comes Jalosjos, asking for clemency. Where is justice?

We call on the Department of Justice, the members of Congress and Pres. Arroyo to be sensible. People have little trust in the government and this action is another critical issue for the people to completely lose their faith in the Philippine justice system and the Arroyo government.#

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