A suspected member of the New People’s Army, Rene Bustamante, who is facing murder charges, has been granted bail by the court.

Bustamante’s lawyer, Joel Obar, said this is just the constitutional rights of the accused to post bail, and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

Although murder is a non-bailable offense, the law also allows that if initial proof shows the weaknesses of evidences presented, bail can be granted, Obar said.

Bustamante was allegedly happy with the grant of bail, and said he will face what he calls trumped-up charges against him.

He was arrested in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental early this year through an alias warrant of arrest for murder, that was questioned by Obar because his name was not on it, only that of a certain Pidiong, whom the Army tagged as a member of the rebel movement.*JG

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