A day after a Mandaue court issued a warrant for his arrest, former Cebu Capitol consultant Byron Garcia posted bail and secured his temporary release in three cyberlibel cases.
The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 83 in Mandaue City issued an Order of Release on June 25 after Garcia posted a total cash bail of P108,000.
In the order signed by Presiding Judge Allan Francisco Garciano, the court directed authorities to release Garcia, unless he was being held for another lawful cause.
The release covers Criminal Case Nos. DU-69754, DU-69755, and DU-69756, all involving alleged violations of Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act, in relation to Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code.
Court records showed Garcia posted bail on June 24, a day after Judge Garciano issued a warrant ordering his arrest. Bail was set at P36,000 for each count, for a total of P108,000.
The warrant, which identified Garcia’s address in Barangay Pooc, Talisay City, was transmitted to the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 7 for implementation.
Following his release, Garcia commented on the latest charges in a Facebook post.
“Inyo man ko gipalotsan ug lain napud nga Kaso nga wa jud koy kalibotan FISCAL, ika tulo (3) najud ni ha, aw magpalusot lang pud ko ug PYANSA daan oi,” Garcia wrote.
He did not elaborate on the allegations contained in the complaints.
The cyberlibel charges add to Garcia’s growing legal troubles.
Earlier this month, he was arrested after another Mandaue court issued a warrant against him in three cases involving alleged violations of the Safe Spaces Act, or the Gender-Based Sexual Harassment Act, filed by Cebu Capitol Public Health Consultant Elisse Nicole “Nikki” Catalan, daughter of Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro.
Garcia later posted bail in those cases and was released after spending two nights in police custody.
As of Thursday, court records in the cyberlibel cases did not identify the complainant or complainants. The cases will proceed before RTC Branch 83 in Mandaue City.
Photo by Kaiser Jan Fuentes
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