Nasino, 2 others seek lower bail

Activists Reina Mae Nasino, the mother who lost her three-month-old daughter while in detention, and two others on Wednesday asked a Manila regional trial court (RTC) to reduce the amount for their bail.

In a six-page joint motion, Nasino, Alma Moran, and Ram Carlo Bautista urged the Manila RTC Branch 47 to reduce the bail for Nasino and Moran to P210,000 from P420,000 and the bail for Bautista to P285,000 from P570,000.

They cited Section 9 of the Rules on Criminal Procedure which states that the judge who granted the application must fix a reasonable amount of bail considering the accused’s financial ability, character and reputation, and the weight of the evidence, among others.

They also stressed that “excessive bail shall not be required.”

Further, they said that bail amounts are merely recommendatory and proposed only by public prosecutors to assist the courts under the 2019 New Bail Bond Guide.

“The amount of bail to be fixed based on the foregoing factors still rests within the sound discretion of the Honorable Court,” the motion read.

According to the motion, the three are human rights workers who are earning only what is necessary for their daily sustenance.

“They have no other sources of income and have relied on support from their families, fellow activists, and concerned citizens. They also come from low-income, working-class families,” it read.

“In addition to their inability to pay the amounts set for bail due to their chosen advocacy, the accused’s character and reputation as activists demonstrate that they have strong ties to the community and will not be flight risks,” it added.

To recall, Nasino gave birth to her child River while in detention. She lost her daughter in October 2020 after River was diagnosed with pneumonia.—AOL, GMA Integrated News