Nasino, 2 other activists seek lower bail

MANILA, Philippines — The families of Reina Mae Nasino and two other detained activists are hoping they will be reunited this Christmas as they asked the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) yesterday to lower the bail amount granted to them.

Accompanied by lawyer Katherine Panguban, Nasino’s mother Marites Asis and aunt Veronica Vidal filed a motion before the Manila RTC Branch 47.

In their motion, Nasino, Alma Moran and Ram Carlo Bautista asked Judge Paulino Gallegos to reduce by half the “excessive” bail of P1.41 million, based on “humanitarian grounds in the spirit of the Christmas season and imperative of equity.”

The activists said they do not have the financial means to afford the bail amount.

They said they were human rights workers before they were arrested by police during a raid on the Bayan office in Tondo, Manila on Nov. 5, 2019.

The activists, collectively known as the “Tondo 3,” were charged with illegal posession of firearms and explosives.

After finding the evidence against them weak, the court allowed them to post bail: P420,000 each for Nasino and Moran and P570,000 for Bautista.

Human rights group Karapatan has welcomed the court’s decision allowing Nasino, Moran and Bautista to post bail.

“They are innocent and yet they are being made to go through so many legal wringers to get out of jail,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.