Manila court grants NDF consultants’ motion for bail

FILE PHOTO: Activists rally for the release of ‘political prisoners’. (Photo: Kabataan Partylist/Facebook)

MANILA–Manila’s Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Friday granted the urgent motion for release on bail for three consultants of the National Democratic Front (NDF).

The petition, filed by spouses Wilma and Benito Tiamzon, and Adel Silva before the sala of Manila RTC Branch 32 Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina, was granted as the prosecution, through the Department of Justice (DOJ), did not show any opposition to the urgent motion.

The Manila RTC granted the temporary liberty on the condition that the three petitioners participate in the peace talks in Oslo, Norway this month; that they will remain free only until the termination of the peace talks; that they post a bail bond of PHP100,000 each, to be cancelled upon the termination of the peace talks; that they submit to the court all their contact numbers; and that they report to the Philippine Embassy in Oslo when necessary.

The three petitioners are members of the NDF’s peace panel who need to join the talks in Oslo on August 20.

They are facing charges of multiple murder before the Manila RTC over the discovery of an alleged “mass grave” in the province of Leyte in 2006.