By Rey E. Requejo

Convicted child rapist and former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos may have walked out of prison but his civil rights have yet to be restored, said Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.

“What was granted was the commutation of his sentence,” he said, when asked about the implication of the 69-year-old offender’s release.

“We have no recommendation yet,” he added, referring to his rights in the full sense of citizenship.

Jalosjos got his papers approved by Gonzalez on Wednesday but processing was only completed yesterday.

“I’m happy because I’m finally free. Now I will be able to fully help those that I left behind in prison,” he said in Filipino during a press conference at a resort he built in Katarungan Village just outside the National Bilibid Prison compound in Muntinlupa City.

He said he regretted not having had the opportunity to apologize to his victim.

Asked if he still has plans to run in next year’s elections, Jalosjos said that as much as he wanted to, the court would not permit him to do so, unless he is given absolute pardon.

Jalosjos was sentenced to two life terms by the Makati Regional Trial Court for raping an 11-year-old girl in 1996.

Bureau of Corrections director Oscar Calderon said the convict had satisfied the requirements of his incarceration.

“The actual time he [Jalosjos] served is around 13 years, excluding over three years worth of [time] bonuses owing to his Good Conduct Time Allowance and colonist status,” he said. “The person has completed and served his sentence.”

Calderon also noted that the two life terms that the court originally gave to Jalosjos were commuted to 16 years by President Arroyo in 2007.