DOJ clarifies Bail Threshold for Qualified Theft

Posted: 10 January 2014

The Department of Justice today said that the value of property in

cases of qualified theft that determines whether or not bail can be
granted is set at Php222,000. This is the existing policy under
Department Circular No. 29 series of 2005.
Recently, the Office of the President revoked Memorandum Order
No. 177 issued in 2005 that provided a different amount of
Php500,000.
"The conflicting issuances resulted to confusion in the bench and
bar," said Secretary of Justice Leila M. de Lima. "By having clear
rules, we hope that there will be more predictability and stability
in our legal framework," she added.
This criminal justice reform was initiated by the DOJ Bail Bond
Committee constituted under Department Order No. 383 dated 10
May 2012 and chaired by Assistant Secretary Geronimo L. Sy.
"The next step is to craft a policy that will not put people to jail
indefinitely for property crimes unless these constitute economic
sabotage or large scale fraud," said Assistant Secretary Sy. "The
poor specially ought not to be punished twice for not being able
to afford bail," he added.
The Bail Committee will proceed with the development of the
2014 Guidelines on Bail to update the old 2000 Rules.
A copy of Memorandum Order No. 63 entitled "Revoking
Memorandum Order No. 177 (s. 2005)" dated December 6, 2013
may be downloaded
at http://www.gov.ph/2013/12/o6/memorandum-order-no-63-s-
2013/.