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Manila: President Gloria Arroyo fired late on Wednesday a senior official who had allowed a convicted child rapist, former Congressman Romeo Jalosjos, to illegally leave the National Penitentiary in suburban Muntinglupa City on December 22.
Arroyo appointed Oscar Calderon, former chief of the Philippine National Police, to replace Ricardo Dapat as director of the Bureau of Corrections.
Calderon said his plan of action includes reshuffling of jail wardens and guards. Dapat is being investigated for Jalosjos' illegal release and for the leakage to the media of the convict's unofficial release order dated December 16.
After his escape, Jalosjos arrived in his hometown in Zamboanga del Norte, in the southern Philippines on December 22. He was arrested and brought to prison in Zamboanga City's penal colony on December 23.
Conspiracy
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said there was a possible conspiracy among prison officials, civilians, and members of Jalosjos's family, which paved the way for the escape of the former congressman.
"There is a plan to bring him back to Mandaluyong before 2008," said Gonzales. "He has a lot of diehard followers who may want to take him away in the south. He was also placed under a hold-departure order," Gonzales added.
"Authorities holding him right now have to explain judiciously why they keep on detaining him," said Jalosjos's lawyer Alfredo Jimenez.
Jalosjos has "served his sentence and should be out of jail. His arresting officers could be liable for warrantless arrest," said Jimenez, adding he would file for the presentation of the former congressman in court. The hearing for the petition was held yesterday.
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