Patchot Asistio still roaming free

Despite being meted by a Caloocan City court four years in prison on illegal drug charges, Patchot Asistio is still a free man after the same court lifted a warrant of arrest for him.

Sources at the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) said the young Asistio, who was absent when he was sentenced last Oct. 9 for illegal possession of less than a gram of shabu in March of this year, would still be a free man for at least 30 days while the Probation and Parole Office (PPO) determines if he is qualified for probation.

Asistio, aside from the effects of the lifting of the warrant for his arrest and his application for drug probation, is temporarily set free on a P50,000 bail bond.

Patchot, 40, a son of former Congressman Luis "Baby" Asistio, escaped arrest when he filed last Oct. 29, 10 days after his sentence was promulgated, a motion to lift the warrant of arrest and submit his application for probation.

Branch 127 Clerk of Court Nemia Gallo said the younger Asistio voluntarily surrendered and appeared before Branch 127 Judge Myrna Dimaranan-Vidal, who had sentenced him to jail.

"By way of giving the accused (Patchot) the benefit of the doubt and sans any opposition on the part of the trial prosecutor, let the warrant of arrest issued on Oct. 9 be cancelled and set aside," Vidal said in an order she issued on Oct. 22.

Gallo said the application for probation has been forwarded to the PPO for appropriate action. The PPO will determine within 30 days whether Patchot is qualified for and can be granted probation by Judge Vidal. – Jerry Botial