ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 5, 2012) – The Commission on Elections has disqualified former Zamboanga del Norte Congressman Romeo Jalosjos, Sr., to vote in Zamboanga City where he is running for mayor in the May 2013 local and national elections.
The Election Registration Board (ERB) ruled in favor of the petition filed by Zamboanga City Congresswoman Maria Isabelle Salazar, who is also gunning for the mayoralty post.
Salazar, also the House Deputy Speaker who belongs to the ruling Liberal Party of President Benigno Aquino, and her supporters and political allies in Zamboanga City, praised the ERB for upholding the petition they filed to disqualify Jalosjos from the local voter’s registration.
Jalosjos, who was convicted in 1997 for raping an 11-year old girl, was able to register with the Commission on Elections in Zamboanga City, but this was opposed by Salazar on the grounds that the former politician is disqualified to register as a new voter here because of his conviction.
“We at the Liberal Party are delighted by this development and we commend the ERB for upholding the rule of law and for resolving our opposition in a prompt and judicious manner.”
“We also laud the members of the ERB for displaying impartiality, fairness and righteousness for the duration of the proceedings despite frantic efforts to confuse and muddle the issues before them, it is clear that the Board has a clear appreciation of the underlying question that needed to be answered – whether or not Mr. Jalosjos is disqualified to register as a voter by virtue of his conviction of the crimes of (two counts of) Statutory Rape and (six counts of) Acts of Lasciviousness,” Salazar said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
Jalosjos insisted his rights to suffrage, adding he had served his sentence, but Salazar said Jalosjos who was sentenced to suffer “reclusion perpetua” and “reclusion temporal” for each count of his crimes.
The penalty for reclusion perpetua shall be from 20 years, while reclusion temporal is from 12 years. And Salazar said Jalosjos was granted a mere commutation of sentence by then President Gloria Arroyo in 2007 which resulted in the reduction of his original sentence.
“In other words, Mr. Jalosjos was not granted an absolute pardon. Official records with the Bureau of Corrections also show that Mr. Jalosjos was discharged from the National Bilibid Prison only on March 18, 2009, less than the 5-year period prescribed under the Voter’s Registration Act. Our laws are very clear and explicit on this matter,” Salazar said.
Jalosjos’ group said they would appeal the decision of the ERB.
Salazar has appealed to citizens to stay vigilant and protect their votes in next year’s polls.
“While we are extremely pleased with this development, the ERB resolution is merely the first step in our crusade to uphold the rule of law and ensure that it applies equally to everyone. We foresee further battles ahead. Thus, I implore our people to maintain consciousness and vigilance in the coming days in order to ensure that our initial gains will be protected, that the rule of law will be upheld, and that no man, regardless of his wealth, influence or social stature, will be allowed to circumvent our laws and gain undue advantage at the expense of our people,” she said.
Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat, who is on his third and last term, also lauded the ERB decision and rallied the locals to support Salazar, one of the most respected politicians in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)
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