San Roque 21 released after posting bail – alliance

The so-called San Roque 21, residents of Sitio San Roque in Quezon City who were arrested for staging a protest on April 1 over the government's failure to provide them the promised aid amid the enhanced community quarantine, were released on Monday after successfully posting bail.

In its statement, the Save San Roque Alliance claimed the bail was posted despite hurdles in the processing and the delayed issuance of needed requirements.

Among the documents they needed to submit in order to post bail were:

• an affidavit of undertaking,
• waiver,
• house sketch,
• barangay certification of residency and clearance,
• handprints,
• 9 copies of 2x2 photos,
• bond money of Php 15,000 and processing fee of Php 2,500, and
• certificate of detention from Camp Karingal.

While the family of Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, and celebrities Ria Atayde and Enchong Dee, among others, contributed the needed amount and legal fund, Barangay Bagong Pag-asa was only able to process the required clearances around noon despite a regional trial court order that these clearances be issued before 9 a.m.

The alliance also claimed that the Quezon City Hall of Justice then refused to accept the documents due to technicalities, but the matter was eventually negotiated and settled.

“The whole process just shows how anti-poor the current justice system is,” said Nanoy Rafael from the Save San Roque Alliance, one of the groups assisting in the release of San Roque 21. “From the bail bond- which is equivalent to more than a month’s wage, to the mountain of requirements – these already put the marginalized families at a disadvantage.”

“It is also ironic to think how slow their release has been taking, as compared to their swift arrest just a week ago,” added Jmar Atienza, one of the Alliance’s co-conveners. — DVM, GMA News