Maguindanao massacre cops’ bail plea junked

The motion of the 15 accused police officers in the so-called Maguindanao Massacre for the reduction of the 200,000 bail for each of the 58 counts of murder was rejected by a Quezon City court due to the gravity and number of offenses, raising the probability that the accused might escape to avoid possible conviction.

In a three-page order, Assisting Judge Genie Gapas-Agbada of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 denied the motion as the inability of the accused to secure bail was not solely considered citing that such circumstance does not make the bail amount excessive.

“For where an accused has no means of his own, no one to bail him out, or none to turn to for premium payments, any amount fixes no matter how small would fall into the category of excessive bail,’’ the order read.

The accused police officers who filed the motion for bail include PO1 Herich Amaba, PO3 Rasid Anton, PO2 Hernanie Decipulo Jr., PO3 Felix Enate Jr., Po1 Esprielito Lejarso, PO1 Narkouk Mascud, SPO1 Eduardo Ong, PO2 Saudi Pasutan, PO1 Arnulfo Soriano, PO3 Abibudin Abdulgani, PO2 Hamad Nena, PO1 Esmael Guialal, SPO1 Oscar Donato, PO1 Abdullah Baguadadu and PO2 Saudier Ulah.

All of the 15 accused were members of the 1508 Provincial Mobile Group.

The police officers were among the 197 accused initially charged for the November 23, 2009 massacre which claimed the lives of 58 individuals including 32 media practitioners.

The appeal of the accused to ask the court to reduce their bail was based on their inability to raise the amount, their alleged non-participation in any other crime and the alleged failure of the prosecution witness to identify them in court.