A six-figure bail payment is now expected to pave the way for the temporary release of former Capitol consultant Byron Fiel Garcia, who is facing three criminal complaints under the Safe Spaces Act.
Garcia is set to post bail on Saturday, June 13, following his arrest on Thursday, June 11, after a warrant was issued by the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 1 in Mandaue City.
Court records showed he will remain under judicial obligation despite his expected release, with arraignment and pre-trial proceedings scheduled on July 29.
The case stemmed from three counts of alleged gender-based online sexual harassment filed against Garcia.
Presiding Judge Jennifer Pepito-Maniwang ordered his arrest after finding probable cause to proceed with trial on the complaints.
Bail was fixed at P36,000 per count, totaling P108,000 for his temporary liberty.
The charges were filed by Capitol Public Health consultant Dr. Elisse Nicole Catalan, who accused Garcia of allegedly posting offensive remarks directed at her on social media.
Prosecutors said the questioned content allegedly included sexist, misogynistic, degrading, and body-shaming statements made publicly online.
The court acted after granting a motion for reconsideration filed by the Office of the City Prosecutor, which revived the dismissed complaints.
The earlier dismissal was based on jurisdictional issues, but prosecutors sought review, which the court later granted after reassessing the evidence.
In its ruling, the court said there was sufficient basis to proceed with trial.
“Accordingly, after a re-evaluation of the Information and supporting evidence together with the Resolution of the prosecution and the Motion for Reconsideration, the court finds that probable cause exists to hold the accused for trial of the cases at bar,” the order stated.
The same order directed the issuance of a warrant and set the schedule for arraignment and pre-trial, subject to Garcia’s arrest or voluntary surrender.
Prosecutors, in a separate resolution, found probable cause to file three counts under Section 12 of Republic Act No. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act.
They presented screenshots, preserved online posts, and National Bureau of Investigation documentation as evidence, including material allegedly linked to Garcia’s verified Facebook account.
The prosecution stressed that freedom of expression is not absolute, noting that sexist and degrading remarks that amount to harassment are punishable under the law.
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