Farmer faces delay in bail refund in Bataan about a year after case dismissal

A farmer has yet to receive the bail refund after a Regional Trial Court in Bataan dismissed a case filed against him about two years ago.

In “24 Oras,” Kapuso Action Man Emil Sumangil reported Wednesday that Bayani Mangubat was arrested in 2022 for allegedly violating the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines.

“Na-dismiss po sa kadahilanang wala silang ebidensya. Pinaratangan po kaming namumutol ng kahoy po tsaka nag-uuling,” Mangubat said.

(The case was dismissed due to lack of evidence. They accused us of illegally cutting trees and burning wood for charcoal.)

But in June 2023, the court dismissed the case for insufficiency of evidence.

The judge ordered the court to refund Mangubat’s bail money worth about P20,000.

It has been more than a year and he has yet to receive the refund.

“‘Yang perang ‘yan ay inutang lang po namin. Minadali kami dahil nakakulong kami kaya nangutang na lang kami nang patubuan. Napakahalaga niyan dahil kagaya ko po magsasaka po ko, wala po kong pinagkakakitaan. Sa katayuan ko po, operado pa ko sa puso at kailangan ko ng maintenance na gamot,” Mangubat said.

(We just borrowed the money. They rushed us since we’re detained. That money is important because, as a farmer, I have no livelihood. In truth, I had a heart operation and I need maintenance medicine.)

Mangubat expressed disappointment as the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of the Third Judicial Region of Dinalupihan-Hermosa, Bataan said the money was stolen by the bank’s messenger, who has yet to be caught.

“Hinihiling ko lang na maibalik yung aming pinangpiyansa. Pinangutang lang po namin ‘yan (All I asked is for them to refund the bail money since we just borrowed it),” he said.

Meanwhile, the Dinalupihan-Hermosa, Bataan Municipal Circuit Trial Court said the request to return the bail money has been forwarded to the Supreme Court (SC), which will be the one to return it.

SC Administrator Raul Villanueva said they found that the bail money allegedly had a troubling issue upon conducting an audit on the said court.

SC ensured that it is studying all possible steps to return the bail money as soon as possible.

“Lubos po akong nagpapasalamat kay ginoong Emil Sumangil at staff po ng GMA (I’m grateful to sir Emil Sumangil and the staff of GMA),” Mangubat said as he was clarified on the issue. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News