PAO asks court to allow 38 royal army members to post bail

MANILA, Philippines - The Public Attorney's Office (PAO) on Tuesday asked a local court to allow the 38 arrested supporters of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to post bail.

PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said that motion for bail for the 38 members of the Sulu Sultanate's army was filed by their lawyers before the Tawi-Tawi Regional Trial Court Branch 5.

The 38 royal army members were arrested by patrolling Navy personnel in waters off Tawi-Tawi last week.

They are facing charges of inciting to war, illegal possession of firearms and violation of the Commission on Elections gun ban.

Acosta had said that all of the three charges filed against the 38 royal army members are bailable.

She also said that if their motion was granted, they would also ask the court to set a lower bail bond for the 38 royal army members.