ILOILO City – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Region 6 is among those who hailed the court’s decision to allow former senator Leila De Lima to post bail after more than six years of imprisonment.
De Lima was out of jail bars last week after Presiding Judge Gener M. Gito granted her a P300,000 bail bond.
Atty. Jonnie Dabuco, director of CHR-6, sees this as a positive development that posits that there is still a fair trial in the country.
“Nalipay gid ang Commission sa pag-grant sang bail. Wala pa man na-dismiss ang kaso pero ini isa ka manami nga development in the sense nga ang right to a fair and speedy trial is a guaranteed right diri sa Pilipinas,” Dabuco told Panay News yesterday morning.
Dabuco believes that the evidence against De Lima weighed less, which is why the bail was granted, especially since the case filed against her is a non-bailable capital offense.
“Under sa rules naton sa Pilipinas ang bail ma-grant kon ang evidence of guilt is not strong. So the fact that gin-grant, daku ang posibilidad nga ang evidence of guilt is not strong,” explained Dabuco.
Although the CHR-6 director said additional evidence or witnesses might surface.
With the release of De Lima, Dabuco is hopeful that it will serve as a light to other persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), especially those who have been in prison for a long time and are still waiting for a decision or resolution in the case with which they are dealing.
“Tani amo ni ang signal sa mga cases kapin pa ang priso nga lawig na, na-detain nga lawig, and waay pa sang resolution ang ila kaso, tani ma-grant ang bail nila,” Dabuco said.
And in cases where bail is granted, he added that the amount would hopefully be attainable for PDLs since some stay imprisoned for being unable to afford it.
“Ang aton gina-follow is presumed innocent until proven guilty. So, manami tani kon samtang on-trial pa kapin pa ining lawig na gin-detain matagaan sang opportunity nga makagwa,” Dabuco added.
Are There Political Prisoners in the Region?
Dabuco said there are detainees that, although they had political involvement in the region, their charges were not rebellion and were relatively common crimes like murder and arson.
“Kon lantawon mo based sa kaso nga gin-file, indi political detainees kay indi man political crime ang gin-file sa ila pero kon you dig deeper, makita mo nga ang rason sini is political crime,” he explained.
Dabuco had no exact numbers on how many PDLs in the region are considered political detainees.
But he hopes that under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the judicial system will be more active, and service delivery will be improved.
“Indi lang madulaan sang paglaum. Ang justice naton medyo mahinay ang tiyog pero nagatiyog man. Dapat strong lang gihapon and patience, and hopefully nga mag-improve and dasig ang judicial system and mag-improve ang delivery sang justice,” Dabuco’s message to PDLs./PN