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Supreme Court Ruling on NPA Bail Amid COVID

Dionisio Almonte and other alleged members of the New People's Army petitioned the Supreme Court of the Philippines for provisional release on humanitarian grounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They argued that as senior citizens, pregnant women, and those in weak health, they were most vulnerable to the virus in the congested prison system. The State opposed the petition, asserting that the petitioners were high-value NPA members accused of heinous crimes. The Supreme Court treated the petition as one for bail and referred the cases to the respective trial courts handling each petitioner's case, emphasizing that bail is at the trial court's discretion when evidence of guilt is strong for crimes punishable by life imprisonment such as those faced

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130 views2 pages

Supreme Court Ruling on NPA Bail Amid COVID

Dionisio Almonte and other alleged members of the New People's Army petitioned the Supreme Court of the Philippines for provisional release on humanitarian grounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They argued that as senior citizens, pregnant women, and those in weak health, they were most vulnerable to the virus in the congested prison system. The State opposed the petition, asserting that the petitioners were high-value NPA members accused of heinous crimes. The Supreme Court treated the petition as one for bail and referred the cases to the respective trial courts handling each petitioner's case, emphasizing that bail is at the trial court's discretion when evidence of guilt is strong for crimes punishable by life imprisonment such as those faced

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Ostan Errol
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Dionisio Almonte et al vs People

of the Philippines
G.R. No. 252117 – Remedial Law – Criminal Procedure – Rule 114; Bail –
Release of Prisoners on Humanitarian Consideration; Covid-19 Pandemic

Dionisio Almonte and his co-petitioners were alleged members of the New
People’s Army (NPA) who were arrested for committing multiple murders.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, they petitioned before the Supreme
Court for them to be provisionally released on humanitarian
considerations. They alleged that they are senior citizens, weakly, and
some of the petitioners were also pregnant and that as such, they are
most vulnerable to contract Covid in the congested prison system.

The petitioners justified their direct filing with the Supreme Court by
invoking the Supreme Court’s “equity jurisdiction”. They also argued,
among others, that the State’s response to the pandemic was not
sufficient and that the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of
Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules) imposes a duty on the part of the State
to protect the health and safety of prisoners consistent with one’s right to
life.

The State, through the Solicitor General, opposed the petition on the
ground that the petitioners are high-value NPA members who have
committed heinous crimes.

ISSUE: Whether or not the Petition should be granted.

HELD: The Supreme Court treated the petition as a petition for bail. The
petition was thus referred to the respective courts handling the specific
cases being faced by each individual petitioner. The Supreme Court
further emphasized that in crimes punishable by reclusion perpetua such
as the crimes being faced by the petitioners, bail is a matter of discretion
where the evidence of guilt is strong. The determination whether or not
evidence of guilt is strong for purposes of bail is the function of the trial
court. The Supreme Court is not a trier of facts. The issue on other
practicable and suitable prison arrangements in view of the pandemic is
likewise best resolved by the trial courts.

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