SC upholds Manila RTC ruling granting temporary liberty to Ocampo, 3 others

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 5): SC upholds Manila RTC ruling granting temporary liberty to Ocampo, 3 others

The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the decision of Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 32 Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina granting provisional liberty to former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo and three others.

Also granted temporary liberty are consultants of the National Democratic Front (NDF) Rafael Baylosis, Randall Echanis and Vivente Ladlad

In the en banc resolution dated Aug. 2, 2016, the SC reminded the conditions for the grant of the provisional liberty under the cash bond of PHP100,000 each of Echanis and Ladlad.

”Wherefore, the provisional liberty of Saturnino C. Ocampo, Randall B. Echanis, and Vicente P. Ladlad under their respective cash bonds is hereby confirmed. They are reminded to faithfully comply with the conditions of their cash bonds,” SC Public Information Office (PIO) Chief and Spokesman Atty. Theodore O. Te said of the SC resolution released on Friday.

However, the SC forfeited the PHP100,000 cash bond posted by Baylosis on Feb. 1, 2012.

The SC noted that his cash bond can be reinstated upon a justifiable cause as may be determined by the Manila RTC Branch 32 after his arrest or surrender.

Any request for his provisional liberty shall only be placed under consideration after this threshold condition has been satisfied.

The SC stressed that the Philippine government panel for negotiations with the NDF may file appropriate motions and pleadings before the RTCs for their consideration.

”Accordingly, the instant cases before this Court are hereby considered CLOSED and TERMINATED,” the SC said.

The High Court said that the additional six months of provisional liberty for Ladlad and Echanis is granted for the purpose of their attendance and participation in the formal peace negotiations in Oslo, Norway commencing in August 2016 up to six months thereafter, or as soon as the peace negotiations are concluded or terminated, whichever is earlier.

Once their participation ceases or the peace negotiations are terminated, their respective bonds shall be deemed automatically canceled.

The SC added that they shall undertake to return to the Philippines after the formal peace negotiations in Oslo.

For the duration of the peace negotiations, they shall report to the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Norway whenever required.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=910900