MikeLigalig.com

By Paolo Romero
The Philippine Star

Malacañang ignored yesterday the request of former Zamboanga del Norte lawmaker Romeo Jalosjos for President Arroyo to grant him absolute pardon so he could vote and run in next year’s elections.

Speaking to reporters, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Jalosjos is free to express his desire to be granted absolute pardon, but whether Mrs. Arroyo would grant it is another matter.

“He (Jalosjos) is entitled to his inclinations now that he’s out of jail,” he said.

“But whether the President pardons him or not is an entirely different matter.”

Speaking to reporters after his release, Jalosjos said he has appealed to Mrs. Arroyo to grant him absolute pardon so he could vote again.

“If I have to beg Malacañang so that I will be able to vote, then I will do that,” he said. “When I was imprisoned, I lost all my political rights. If I will be given absolute pardon, these rights will then be restored.

“I am a changed man. I see many things differently now. I now understand the sentiments of the inmates. I sympathize with them and their plight.

“I have more patience now unlike before. I thank God that he still retained my physical strength after all these years of being detained, and because of this, I will still be able to help those who I will leave inside.”

‘Jalosjos can still run’

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal debunked yesterday the claims of Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez that Jalosjos could no longer run for office.

However, Macalintal said Jalosjos would have to wait for a certain period after his release before he could get back his right to vote.

“He has to wait for five years if he runs for national position or two years for local elective post,” he said.

“This is so because he was not given pardon but merely commutation of sentence.”

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