Thursday, March 13, 2003
Rules stop fiscals from increasing bail for robbers
By Giovannie A. Nilles
EVEN with P500,000 in loot, the maximum bail bond for simple robbery is still P40,000.
That’s how Acting Cebu City Prosecutor Jose Pedrosa explained why his office could not set bail higher than what is provided for by the Department of Justice bail bond guide.
He confirmed that Cebu City Police Director Josephus Angan expressed dismay over the release on bail last week of robbery suspect Ares Glen Madarang.
To compute the amount of bail in simple robbery cases, Pedrosa explained that the maximum penalty is multiplied by P1,000 per year.
Since the crime has a maximum penalty of 40 years, the P40,000 recommended bail bond for Madarang is the maximum limit.
“Of course, we can still recommend a higher bail bond if we want to but the courts can easily overrule this for being beyond what is provided for in the rules,” Pedrosa said, adding that there was nothing irregular in Assistant Prosecutor Jesus Feliciano’s recommendation of the amount.
Pedrosa added it would have been different if the case filed before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office were robbery with homicide or robbery with serious physical injuries, which carry tougher penalties.
Assistant City Prosecutor Edilberto Ensomo added the bail amount is always relative to the financial status of a person.
“To a rich man, P40,000 is a coin. To a poor man, it means a lot,” he said.
Theft and Robbery Section Chief Ambrosio Ibones and cell shop owner Nathaniel Jorge earlier expressed their dismay over the bail, saying this was too small compared to the loot.
Madarang, along with two others, stands accused of robbing Jorgeens Cellular Shop along Gen. Maxilom Ave. last March 1. He was arrested after a pension house attendant found, in the toilet of Madarang’s room, a card belonging to the shop’s owner.
(March 13, 2003 issue)
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