THE children of Janet Napoles—James Christopher and Jo Christine—asked the Sandiganbayan to reduce their bail bonds.
The two are facing 15 counts of graft along with their mother, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and several others in connection with the pork barrel scam.
Last June, James Christopher and Jo Christine posted a surety bond for their temporary liberty. Bail for each count was set at P30,000. They asked the curt to allow them to post a cash bond because the surety company will no longer be renewing the surety with them for unknown reasons.
However, they asked the anti-graft court’s Third Division to lower the P450,000 bond that each should post.
Under Section 9 of Rule 114 of the Rules of Court, bail is determined based on several factors. These include the financial ability of the accused as well as character and reputation, age and health; nature and circumstances of the offense; penalty for the offense charged and the weight of the evidence.
Defense lawyers said James and Jo Christine “have aptly demonstrated that they are not flight risks” and have not violated the conditions of their bail.
Mrs. Napoles is in the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong where she is serving time for serious illegal detention.
Enrile, who is facing a non-bailable P172-million plunder case, is under hospital arrest at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital in Camp Crame.