Anti-crime group slams prisoner release bill

MANILA, Philippines - The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) yesterday condemned House Bill 5395, which seeks to allow “indigent prisoners” with bailable criminal offenses to post bail without putting up any money.

In a statement, VACC founding chairman and president Dante Jimenez said the proposed legislation, which has been approved by the Senate, would allow prisoners to be released without having to pay bail fees by reason of “indigency” or financial incapacity.

Jimenez said the bill is unconstitutional because it violates the “equal protection clause” as provided in the Constitution.

“Why should there be a differentiation in treatment of inmates suspected of crime? Why should a so-called indigent inmate suspected of killing be dealt with differently and given the preferential treatment over a rich prisoner similarly situated? The lowly and the mighty stand equal before the law,” he said.

According to the VACC, “the bill gives undue advantage to the suspect and the government is in a (bind) to mitigate the circumstances of the suspected killer, effectively protecting his rights and strengthening his position.”

Jimenez said that if it becomes a law, it will delay dispensation of justice.

He said the laborious process of documentation will tax the justice system, compounding its problems and the suspect would have more chances to escape and avoid trial.

The VACC views the bill as a “vote-rich” way to get the vote of the poor.

“We need only to strengthen and give more teeth to existing laws, not create new ones with dubious intentions,” Jimenez said.