Table of Contents

 What is Bail Philippines?

 What is the basis for Bail in Philippine Law?

 What are the types of Bail Philippines?

 When do I have a Right to Bail in the Philippines?

 Why was I denied Bail in the Philippines?

o Denied Bail or the Right to Bail in Discretionary

 What is the Bail Amount in the Philippines?

 Bail Philippines: Frequently Asked Questions

o How to Reduce Bail Philippines?

o Where should Bail in the Philippines be posted?

o What are the Bail Requirements Philippines?

o Can I be released even if I cannot post cash Bail in the Philippines?

o Can I be released without posting Bail Philippines?

o How to refund Bail in the Philippines?

What is Bail Philippines?

Bail Philippines is commonly cash or bond given for the release of a person in custody of the law,
to ensure that he appears in court.

Bail can be given in cash or a bond.

Once Bail is given, the detained person is released.

You might ask why Bail in the Philippines exists if someone is under suspicion.

Bail exists because the law presumes that someone is innocent until proven guilty.
“Cash bail poses a two-tiered justice system.
Those who can buy their way to freedom, and those who suffer in prison.”

Bail also exists to allow the accused to gather proof for his defense.

The accused would be at a severe disadvantage in preparing his case if he was in jail, so Bail is an
attempt to give everyone a fair chance.

What is the basis for Bail in Philippine Law?

The basis for Bail in Philippine law is in the Constitution and is also discussed in the Rules of
Criminal Procedure.
No bail application will be granted if the conviction is final.

The Constitution defines Bail in the Philippines as:

All persons, except those charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua when evidence
of guilt is strong, shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, or be released on
recognizance as may be provided by law. The right to bail shall not be impaired even when the
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended. Excessive bail shall not be required.

In Rule 114 of Rules of Criminal Procedure, further aspects of bail are discussed such as the Right
to Bail and Unbailable Offenses.

I’ll discuss them separately.

What are the types of Bail Philippines?

Bail acts as collateral to ensure that the accused appears in court.

There are 4 types of Bail in the Philippines: Cash, Property, a Surety Bond, or a Waiver of
Payment on the condition that the accused appear in court when needed (Recognizance).

After you are acquitted, you can withdraw the full amount of cash less a transaction fee.

Property for the full amount of the Bail Amount can also be given.

Surety bonds require the non-refundable payment of a percentage of the total value of the Bail
Amount.

For a Bail of Php 10,000, you might need to pay only Php 2,000.

For Surety bonds, remember that you will also renew upon expiration.

Note, try to get the bond from accredited bond companies.

“A man of courage never needs weapons, but he may need bail.” -Lewis Mumford

The last type of bond is Recognizance.

Recognizance is governed by RA 10389.

Recognizance allows the release of a person who cannot post bail due to inability to pay.

It can be granted by the court upon proof of indigency from the Barangay.

However, Recognizance is harder to avail of vs other types of bail.

Recognizance must be requested from the court, requires proof of indigency and must be
approved of by the mayor.

Recognizance requires a lot of coordination.

So, also consider the work involved when trying for Recognizance – it requires some effort and
time.

When do I have a Right to Bail in the Philippines?

All accused have a Right to Bail in the Philippines before or after conviction by Metropolitan,
Municipal, or Municipal Circuit courts. The Right to Bail is also available before conviction for
crimes not punishable by death, reclusion perpetua, or life imprisonment.

Cash bail perpetuates inequalities in the justice system, making disadvantaged communities feel
disproportionate.

Your Right to Bail in the Philippines is because you are presumed innocent until proven guilty and
is a fundamental part of the law. [G.R. No. 214300]

You are allowed to Petition for Bail as soon as you are deprived of your freedom [G.R. 148468].

Furthermore, Bail is also available when there are special humanitarian considerations
involved. [G.R. No. 213847]

So, Bail is available in many situations (there are exceptions).

Bail should be calculated carefully, taking into account several factors and not just the gravity of
the offence.

In practice however, Bail is often calculated on the gravity of the offence despite the fact that
other factors may come into play.
You may have to file a Petition for Bail in the Philippines, if you are not given Bail at the onset.

Why was I denied Bail in the Philippines?

Denied Bail or the Right to Bail in Discretionary

As long as it concerns the liberty of a person, bail should be granted and never denied.

You can be denied Bail if the offense’s penalty is Reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment.

You may be denied Bail in the Philippines if you were convicted at the Regional Trial Court.

You can also be denied Bail when you are waiting for your case to be tried at the Court of
Appeals and if the Regional Trial Court converted your offense from a Non-Bailable to a Bailable
Offence.

You can also be denied Bail in the Philippines if the penalty imposed is more than 6 years and if
you are a recidivist or escaped legal confinement among the following other factors:

 You are a recidivist, quasi-recidivist, habitual delinquent, or have committed the crime
aggravated by the circumstance of reiteration
  You have previously escaped legal confinement, evaded sentence, or violated the
conditions of his bail without valid justification

 You have committed the offense while under probation, parole, or conditional pardon

 The circumstances indicate the probability of flight if released on bail

 If there is undue risk you may commit another crime during the pendency of the appeal.

These are all examples of when you are denied Bail in the Philippines or when Bail is not possible
at all.

What is the Bail Amount in the Philippines?

The Bail Amount in the Philippines depends on what the offense is and the offense’s penalty.

The Bail amounts is a case-to-case basis and there are also non-bailable cases in the Philippines
like possession of huge amounts of illegal drugs and murder cases

For Theft or Qualified Theft

  Bail is the maximum penalty multiplied by 2,000 for Theft or Qualified Theft up to
600,000.

 Bail is the maximum penalty multiplied by 6,000 for Theft or Qualified Theft over
600,000.

For Estafa

 Bail is the maximum penalty multiplied by 2,000 for Estafa up to 1,200,000.

 Bail is the maximum the penalty multiplied by 6,000 for Estafa over 1,200,000

For crimes under the Rule on Summary Procedure, Republic Act No. 6036 or when otherwise not
covered under the 2018 New Bail Bond

 Bail is 3,000 when the accused is brought to inquest proceedings and is under the Rule
on Summary Procedure, Republic Act No. 6036 or when otherwise not covered under
2018 New Bail Bond.

For Batasang Pambansa or BP 22

 Bail shall be P6,000.00 for the first P40,000 of the check’s face value

 Bail will be an additional 6,000.00 for every P40,000 in excess of P40,000.

 It should not exceed Php 120,000

For crimes punishable only by a fine

 Bail is not required for fines less than Php 400,000

 Bail is 10% for fines exceeding Php 400,000

For violations of Special laws except when specifically identified in the 2018 Bond guide:

 Bail is the number of years in its maximum period multiplied by P6,000.00

Unfair it may sound, but the bail system in the Philippines is often seen as a luxury only the rich
can afford.

Bail is the number of years in its maximum period multiplied by P10,000.00 for the following
laws:

 RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and

Discrimination), as amended by RA 9231 (Elimination of the Worst Form of Child Labor);

 RA 9775 (Anti Child Pornography Act);

 RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act);

 RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) amended by RA 10640;

 RA 9160 (Anti Money Laundering Act of 2001 amended by RA 9194 and RA 10167;

 RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act);

 RA 9208 as amended by RA 10364 (Expanded Human Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012);

 RA 9372 (Human Security Act of 2007);

 RA 9745 (Anti Torture Act of 2009);

  RA 9995 (Anti Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009);

 RA 10168 (Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012)

 IRA 10353 (Anti Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012)

 RA 10883 (New Anti Carnapping Act of 2016 (repealing RA 6539);

 PD 1866 (Illegal Possession of Firearms/Ammunition or Explosives) as amended by RA

9516;

 Republic Act No. 6968 (Rebellion, Insurrection or Coup d’Etat).

Bail Philippines: Frequently Asked Questions

How to Reduce Bail Philippines?

The judge or court officers must consider factors that may oppose bails such as the risk of escape
and the risk of further criminal activity against the public.
Prosecutors can reduce Bail Philippines when taking into account the accused’s financial
capability, health and age.

The complete list of factors that Reduce the Bail Amount in the Philippines are:

 Financial ability of the accused to give bail

 Nature and circumstances of the offense

 Penalty for the offense charged

 Character and reputation of the accused

 Age and health of the accused

 Weight of the evidence against the accused

 Probability of the accused appearing at the trial

 Forfeiture of other bails

 The fact that the accused was a fugitive from justice when arrested

 Pendency of other cases where the accused is on bail.

When bail is a matter of right, the defendant can apply for and be granted bail before the
indictment.

However, often the Bail Amount in the Philippines is calculated only on the gravity of the offense.

For example –

For crimes punishable by prison correctional, the punishment’s maximum number of years is
multiplied by 6,000.

(Your Bail Amount in the Philippines depends on the offense committed because different
offenses have different ways they are calculated. I’ll go into how Bail is calculated later on.)

You can reduce the Bail Amount if one of the above factors applies (and if bail is available in your
case) by filing a Motion to Reduce Bail.

Filing a Motion to Reduce Bail can take some time so be prepared to wait for a while if you do
this.

Where should Bail in the Philippines be posted?

Bail in the Philippines should be posted in the court where the case is pending. This is especially
true for Bail using Recognizance or when it is a matter of discretion.

The Secretary of Justice and the Regional Trial Court issue guidelines that prohibit people with
pending cases from leaving the Philippines, known as the Hold Departure Order (HDO).

In the absence of a judge, Bail in the Philippines may be posted in the RTC or MTC as the
circumstances warrant.

The Bail is paid to the Office of Clerk of Court.

What are the Bail Requirements Philippines?

Bail Requirements in the Philippines are below but not limited to the following:
Petition for bail must be resolved within a period of thirty calendar days from the date of the first
hearing without extension.

 Pictures and fingerprints of the accused

 Barangay Certificate

 Sketch of the address

 IDs of the Accused

 Certified True Copy of the Information

Other items such as a Waiver of Appearance, a Certificate from the law enforcement Agent, and
a Certificate of Detention may be requested.

If a representative will be posting Bail, then his ID and a SPA should also be presented.

Can I be released even if I cannot post cash Bail in the Philippines?

Yes, you can be released if you cannot post Bail in the Philippines through the process of
Recognizance.
If the accused jumping bail or committing other harm to the citizenry is feared, it is not
considered an over-bail violation if there are additional conditions for bail to be imposed.

Recognizance allows your release to a qualified custodian if you are not able to post Bail in the
Philippines if you meet certain requirements. [RA 10389]

Recognizance has several requirements, so be prepared to wait some time if this is what you
decide to do.

Recognizance Philippines Requirements:

 Sworn declaration of Indigency

 DSWD Certification

 After arraignment

 Sanggunian Resolution with a list of recommended organizations for whom a custodian

can be chosen acted on by the mayor

 Fingerprints and photographs of the accused

This should be followed shortly by a hearing.

(You can still be denied Bail Philippines for being a recidivist, quasi-recidivist, etc, etc. Please see
my section above Why was I denied Bail in the Philippines).

The custodian and the parole officer assigned to you should guarantee your appearance at court.
A custodian can suffer imprisonment if you do not appear so it is a serious duty.

Can I be released without posting Bail Philippines?

Yes, you can be released without posting Bail Philippines if you have been in custody for longer
or equal to the maximum imprisonment for the offense charged.

You will need to inform the court of this so a Motion must be filed prior to your release.

“Release on one`s own recognizance” is a waiver of payment, subject to the timely appearance
of the accused in court.

How to refund Bail in the Philippines?

Upon acquittal, your lawyer may create a Motion to request a refund of the Bail money paid.

The court will then create an Order authorizing the release of Bail.
You will need to bring this to the Clerk of Court to release the Bail money.

As specified in the Bill of Rights, no excessive bail is required and must reflect bail issued in
accordance with the Department of Justice’s Bail Bond Guide.