Makati court to hear Leviste motion for bail

The Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) is set to hear this morning the motion for bail filed by former Batangas governor Jose Antonio Leviste, who was charged with murdering his longtime aide.

Leviste, who is still at the Makati Medical Center as of press time, asked the court last Monday to allow him to post bail because the evidence against him "is not strong."

On the other hand, Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will strongly object to Leviste’s motion because murder is a non-bailable offense.

"We will oppose it, definitely. And most importantly, we are opposing the special treatment accorded to Leviste," he said in an interview with reporters.

Velasco also lashed out at Leviste’s hospitalization, saying there is no clear evidence that he was indeed sick and that his stay in the hospital was justifiable.

He added that the DOJ will also ask officials of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to explain why they had allowed Leviste’s hospitalization despite the absence of a valid court order.