President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by PNP Chief Director General Ricardo Marquez, troops the line during the 114th Police Service Anniversary at the PNP Multi-Purpose Center, Camp Crame in Quezon City on Friday August 7 with the theme: “Pambansang Pulisya: Patuloy sa Makabuluhang Paglilingkod at Makatarungang Pagpapatupad ng Batas.” The Philippine National Police celebrates the Police Service Anniversary in commemoration of the joint founding anniversaries of the Insular Constabulary established in 1901 and the Integrated National Police, organized in 1975, both forerunner organizations of the PNP. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Sandiganbayan Fourth Division reversed its earlier ruling denying the petition for bail of former Philippine National Police (PNP) director Geary Barias in connection with the alleged fictitious repair of PNP armored vehicles in 2007.
In a ruling promulgated on March 7, released to the media on Tuesday, the Fourth Division granted the motion for reconsideration of Barias and allowed him to post bail amounting to P400,000 or P200,000 for each count of the offense.
Barias was charged with two counts of malversation through falsification of public documents in connection with the alleged anomalous repair of PNP light armored vehicles in 2007 during the term of then PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr.
It was in 2014 when the court denied Barias, Razon and 13 other police officials’ petition to post bail for their malversation through falsification of public documents case citing the strong evidence presented by the prosecution panel during the hearing of their bail plea.
Barias, Razon and the 13 other police officials are also facing graft charges over the armored vehicle anomaly but graft is a bailable offense.
In its new decision, the Fourth Division said the Supreme Court has recently ruled that the complex crime of malversation through falsification of public documents must now be considered a bailable offense without undergoing bail petition proceedings.
“The Supreme Court has now ruled that an accused charged with the complex crime of malversation through falsification of public documents is entitled to bail as a matter of right,” the ruling penned by Fourth Division member Associate Justice Alex Quiroz read.
The ruling was concurred by division chairman Associate Justice Jose Hernandez and senior member Napoleon Inoturan.
“Wherefore, finding the motion for reconsideration filed by the accused-movant Barias to be legally tenable, the same is hereby GRANTED. Let the accused-movant Barias be allowed to post his bail in the amount of P200,000 for each information charged for the crime of Malversation through Falsification of Public Documents,” the ruling added.
Barias has been detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City since 2013.(MNS)