Daraga mayor Carlwyn Baldo granted bail

A Legazpi City court has allowed Daraga mayor Carlwyn Baldo, the alleged mastermind of a congressman's murder, to post bail for his provisional liberty while prosecutors investigate criminal complaints against him.

In a Tuesday order, the Legazpi Regional Trial Court Branch 10 fixed the bail at P3 million in cash or P4 million in surety or property bond on the condition that Baldo will appear in court whenever required, report weekly to Region 5 police, refrain from publicly discussing the case, and immediately surrender if he is charged in court.

Another branch of the Legazpi RTC has earlier issued a precautionary hold departure order against Baldo, preventing him from leaving the country without court permission.

Because of this, "the probability of flight has been consistently lowered; albeit there is still the possibility that he will do so," the newer order stated.

However, the court stressed the order applies only to the complaints for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition -- the reason for Baldo's arrest last month -- and not to the murder charges in connection with the fatal attack on Ako Bicol party-list representative Rodel Batocabe and his police escort in December.

Prosecutors would have to find probable cause to indict a person accused of a crime before charges could be filed in court. In this case, the court said the presumption of innocence should apply to Baldo, who has not been formally charged but is detained.

"If bail could be availed of by one who is charged with a capital offense (provided evidence of guilt is not strong), then with more reason that bail could be available for one under arrest without any proper criminal information filed in court against him," the court said. —LDF, GMA News