Kaban ni D_BystandeR: KASONG KINUYKUYAN, MISANGPOT SA TAMBALANAN

It is not unusual that a 72-year old man (a former 3-termer mayor) would submit himself for incarceration to serve a jail sentence of a crime committed 45 years ago. The long arm of the law finally caught up with him but only in a situation where he is already sickly and due for a heart bypass operation. George Ryan, the former Governor of Illinois, USA, who was just recently released from prison after serving six years was already 78 when he found his freedom again. Prior to his conviction, he became popular by declaring a moratorium on death penalty in his state due to discovery of cases of wrongful conviction. He was in prison because of a "mild" case of corruption that if he were in the Philippines he could have easily avoid conviction due to his political power and influence. But in the States, even if you have a respectable personality you have to follow the law no matter what your status in life is in the government.

Footnote: Former Dapitan Mayor Dominador Jalosjos Jr. has served his town for three consecutive terms. He is the brother of former Zamboanga del Norte Congressman Romeo Jalosjos, who was once jailed for raping a minor. Dominador Jalosjos was convicted of a robbery case where he was supposed to serve jail for one year and six months after his conviction in 1969. He was a probationary prisoner but the case was overlooked and was only "dug out from the grave" by his political opponent due to a heated political battle when Dominador ran for Governor of Zamboanga del Norte in last year's May election.