(Eagle News) — Janet Lim Napoles’ brother and two children have asked the anti-graft court to reduce bail for their temporary liberty.
In their urgent motion filed before the Sandiganbayan’s third division, the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind’s children Jo Christine and James Christopher, and their uncle, Ronald Francisco Lim asked that the P23.2 million bail pegged by the court be reduced by 96.9 percent.
The three are facing 97 counts each for graft and malversation charges over the P900-million Malampaya fund scam.
Their co-accused are former Budget chief and incumbent Camarines Sur Representative Rolando Andaya Jr. and former Agrarian Reform secretary and now Masui City, Lanao del Sur Mayor Nasser Pangandaman.
In arguing that bail be reduced, they said the amount recommended by the court “has practically stripped any person presumed innocent of the constitutional right of temporary liberty.”
“The amount recommended is not only overwhelming but disheartening as well,” they said, noting their supposed financial incapability to make the payment.
They added that based on Article 70 of the Revised Penal Code, they should be allowed by the court to pay bail three times the amount of the recommended bail of the most severe charge — P200,000 for malversation and P60,000 for graft.
“All accused-movants, beg to the wide latitude granted to this honorable court to exercise its discretion not only in the administration of justice but in the welding of safeguards against oppression for persons who are presumed innocent,” they said.
