Bail As A Matter Of Discretion

Sec. 5. Bail, when discretionary. – Upon conviction by the Regional Trial  Court  of  an  offense  not  punishable  by  death,  reclusion perpetua,  or  life  imprisonment,  admission  to  bail  is  discretionary. The  application  for  bail  may  be  filed  and  acted  upon  by  the  trial court  despite  the  filing  of  a  notice  of  appeal,  provided  it  has  not transmitted the original record to the appellate  court. However,  if the decision of  the trial  court  conviction the  accused changed the nature of the offense from non-bailable to bailable, the application for bail can only be filed with and resolved by the appellate court.
 
Should the court grant the application, the accused may be allowed to  continue  on  provisional  liberty  during  the  pendency  of  the appeal   under   the   same   bail   subject   to   the   consent   of   the
bondsman.
 
If the penalty imposed by the trial court is imprisonment exceeding six (6) years, the accused shall be denied bail, or his bail shall be cancelled  upon  a  showing  by  the  prosecution,  with  notice  to  the accused, of the following or other similar circumstances:
 
(a) That he is a  recidivist, quasi-recidivist, or habitual delinquent, or  has  committed  the  crime  aggravated  by  the  circumstance  of reiteration;
 
(b) That he has previously escaped from legal confinement, evaded sentence,  or  violated  the  conditions  of  his  bail  without  valid justification;

(c) That he committed the offense while under probation, parole, or conditional pardon;
 
(d)  That  the  circumstances  of  his  case  indicate  the  probability  of flight if released on bail; or  (e)  That  there  is  undue  risk  that  he  may  commit  another  crime during the pendency of the appeal.
    
The appellate  court may,  motu proprio or on motion of any party, review the resolution of the Regional Trial Court after notice to the adverse party in either case.
 

IF  THE  ACCUSED  IS  CONVICTED  IN  THE  RTC  FOR  AN  OFFENSE WITH LESS THAN 6 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT, IS BAIL A MATTER OF RIGHT OR OF DISCRETION?

> It is matter of discretion
> Bail after conviction in the RTC for an offense not punishable by a
capital punishment is a matter of discretion
 

IF  THE  ACCUSED  IS  CONVICTED  IN  THE  RTC  FOR  AN  OFFENSE PUNISHABLE FROM 6 TO 8 YEARS, IS BAIL A MATTER OF RIGHT OR OF DISCRETION?

> It is neither a matter of right nor a matter of discretion.  Why?  It should be denied due to the high flight risk.
 

WHEN CAN  THE PROSECUTION  MOVE  FOR THE CANCELLATION OR DENIAL OF BAIL OF THE ACCUSED?

> If the penalty imposed by the court is imprisonment for more than 6 years, the prosecution may move for the denial or cancellation of  the  bail  of  the  accused,  with  notice  to  the  accused,  upon showing of the following circumstances:

1.    That he is a recidivist, quasi-recidivist, or habitual delinquent, or has committed the crime aggravated by the circumstance of reiteration;
2.    That  he  has  previously  escaped  from  legal  confinement, evaded sentence, or violated the conditions of his bail without valid justification;
3.    That he committed the offense while under probation, parole, or conditional pardon;
4.    That the circumstances of his case indicate the probability of flight if released on bail; or
5.    That  there  is  undue  risk  that  he  may  commit  another  crime during the pendency of the appeal. 

WHEN MAY A PERSON BE NOT ADMITTED TO BAIL?

> When  the  evidence  of  guilt  is  strong,  a  person  shall  not  be admitted to bail if charged with a capital offense, or when charged with  an  offense  that  under  the  law  is  punishable  with  reclusion
perpetua at the time of the commission of the offense and at the time of application for bail
 

WHEN IS A BAIL HEARING NECESSARY?

> The  present  rules  provide  that  a  bail  hearing  is  mandatory  on granting bail, whether it is a matter of right or of discretion
> Even in cases where there is no petition for bail, a hearing should still be had
> It is incumbent upon the prosecution to show evidence of guilt is strong.    Even  if  there  is  absence  or  refusal,  court  shall  still conduct a hearing.
 

IF  PROSECUTOR  REFUSES,  WHAT  EVIDENCE  SHOULD  BE  USED  BY THE COURT?  

> If  the  prosecutor  refuses  to  cooperate,  the  evidence  that  should be  used  by  the  court  is  the  evidence  found  in  the  information, complaint   or   even   the   records   of   the   case   or   preliminary investigation conducted
 

CAN THE COURT MOTU PROPIO GRANT BAIL EVEN IF THERE IS NO APPLICATION?

> No.  
 

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF THE JUDGE WHO DENIES AN APPLICATION FOR BAIL?

> The  order  denying  bail  issued  by  the  judge  should  contain  a summary of the evidence presented and the reason for the denial, otherwise, it shall be void
> The  reason  is  that  there  is  a  need  for  clear  grounds  before  a person can be denied his liberty
> This  is  to  safeguard  the  constitutional  right  to  presumption  of innocence
 

IF  THERE  IS  A  POSSIBILITY  THAT  THE  ACCUSED  WOULD  JUMP BAIL, WHAT CAN THE COURT DO?

1.    Increase the amount of the bail
2.    Require periodic reports of the accused to court
3.    Warn the accused that should he jump bail, the trial may proceed in absentia