If he wins, senatorial candidate and human rights lawyer Jose Manuel 'Chel' Diokno will amend Republic Act 10389 or the Recognizance Act for instances such as that of the 80-year-old grandfather who was arrested for allegedly stealing mangoes.
Narding Flores was arrested in Asingan, Pangasinan for allegedly stealing 10 kilograms of mangoes from his neighbor’s lot.
Diokno, who is running under the ticket of Vice President Leni Robredo, lamented that Flores could have availed himself of recognizance but there are too many requirements for it.
According to lawphil.net, recognizance is a “mode of securing the release of any person in custody or detention for the commission of an offense who is unable to post bail due to abject poverty.”
“Nakakalungkot ang nangyaring pag-aresto kay Lolo Na(r)ding. Dito makikita ang (The arrest of Lolo Narding is saddening. Here we can see the) double standard na hustisya sa ating bansa. Kapag mahirap nakukulong, pero kapag mayaman nakakalaya (of justice in our country. If you are poor, you will be imprisoned but if you are rich, you are free),” Diokno said on Thursday, Jan. 20.
“May kilala nga tayo na isang makapangyarihang tao nahatulan na pero nasa laya pa rin (We even know someone powerful who was already convicted but is still free),” he added without dropping names.
If he wins a Senate seat this coming May 2022 polls, the veteran lawyer vowed to amend the law so people like Flores can be freed without posting bail.
The suspect was asked to post P6,000 bail on Thursday for his temporary liberty.
Diokno said that part of his legislative agenda is the passage of the Alternative Penalties Act, which would allow the courts to impose alternative penalties to imprisonment for minor offenses.
The penalties may include community service, home detention and electronic monitoring, rehabilitation or treatment orders for drug and alcohol-related cases, fully or partially suspended sentences with conditions attached, and exclusion orders.