Offenses Not Bailable, Bail As A Matter Of Discretion

Sec.  7.  Capital  offense  or  an  offense  punishable  by  reclusion perpetua  or  life  imprisonment,  not  bailable.  –  No  person  charged with  a  capital  offense,  or  an  offense  punishable  by  reclusion perpetua  or  life  imprisonment,  shall  be  admitted  to  bail  when evidence  of  guilt  is  strong,  regardless  of  the  state  of  the  criminal prosecution.
 
IN  AN  INFORMATION  FILED  BEFORE  THE  RTC,  RP  WAS  CHARGED WITH  VIOLATION  OF  PD  1866  FOR  ILLEGAL  POSSESSION  OF FIREARMS  PUNISHABLE  BY  RECLUSION  TEMPORAL  MAXIMUM  TO RECLUSION  PERPETUA.    PENDING  TRIAL,  RP  WAS  RELEASED  ON BAIL.  THEREAFTER, RP WAS CONVICTED AS CHARGED AND METED AN INDETERMINATE PENALTY OF 17 YEARS 4 MONTHS AND 1 DAY OF RECLUSION TEMPORAL TO 21 YEARS OF RECLUSION PERPETUA.  ON APPEAL, RP’S CONVICTION WAS AFFIRMED AND HIS BAIL WAS CANCELLED.  RP APPEALED TO THIS DECISION AND PRAYED TO BE
ALLOWED  TO  POST  BAIL   FOR  TEMPORARY  LIBERTY. IS  RP ENTITLED TO BAIL?

> In  this  case,  appellant  was  convicted  of  a  crime  punishable  by reclusion  perpetua.    He  is  therefore  not  entitled  to  bail  as  his conviction clearly imports that the evidence of guilt is strong.

> Furthermore,  a  summary  hearing  for  his  bail  application  for  the sole purpose of determining whether or not evidence is strong is unnecessary.

> The  extensive  trial  before  the  lower  court  and  the  appeal before respondent  court  are  more  than  sufficient  in  accomplishing  the purpose  for  which  a  summary  hearing  for  bail  application  is designed