Three activists and human rights advocates have asked the Manila regional trial court (RTC) to reduce the bail bond they have to post for their temporary liberty.
More than three years after their arrest and detention, Reina Mae A. Nasino. Alma E. Moran, and Ram Carlo P. Bautista were allowed to post bail on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives in an order issued by RTC Judge Paulino Q. Gallegos.
The judge set the bail for Nasino and Moran at P420,000 each, while Bautista’s bail was set at P570,000.
They pleaded that the bail bond be reduced to P210,000 for Nasino and Moran, and to P285 for Bautista.
In their motion to reduce bail, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) told the RTC: “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.”
The NUPL also said: “Prior to their detention, all the accused are members of progressive organizations based in Manila. Accused Bautista is the campaign director of the multi-sectoral formation Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Manila chapter (BAYAN-Manila). Accused Moran is a member of the secretariat of labor union Manila Workers Unity, while accused Nasino is a coordinator of urban poor organization Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap-Manila chapter (Kadamay-Manila).”
“As full-time human rights workers, they were earning only what was necessary for their daily sustenance. They have no other sources of income and have relied for support from their families, fellow activists, and concerned citizens. They also come from low-income, working-class families,” it added.
It pointed out that in granting bail, “the weight of the evidence against the accused has, at this point, been established and confirmed by this Honorable Court as weak, while the Court of Appeals has already ruled to exclude the evidence allegedly seized from the accused during their arrest for being fruits of the poisonous tree.”
The three activists were arrested on Nov. 5, 2019 by police at the office of Bayan in Tondo, Manila where arresting officers, who were implementing search warrants, allegedly found firearms and explosives which the accused claimed were allegedly planted.
While in detention, Nasino gave birth to a baby girl she named River on July 1, 2020. Her baby, however, died in the care of her family after the court ordered their separation.
TAGS: #Nasino #NUPL #Human rights activists