Judge grants bail to accused killers of US Marine

MANILA, Philippines—The four men accused of killing US Marine Maj. George Anikow last November have been ordered released from jail after the Makati Regional Trial Court granted their petition for bail.

The lawyers of the accused went to the court early Friday to post P300,000 bail for each and arrange the release of Galicano Datu III, Crispin dela Paz, Juan Alfonso Abastillas, and Osric Cabrera.

According to the seven-page resolution issued by Judge Winlove Dumayas of the Makati Regional Trial Court’s Branch 59, the prosecution failed to present enough evidence to prove conspiracy or use of superior force by the four suspects against Anikow on Nov. 27, 2012 at Rockwell in Barangay Bel-Air in Makati.

“The untoward incident was created by plain emotional upheaval, it is therefore unplanned,” Dumayas said in his resolution, adding that the “prosecution failed in its burden to prove and establish conspiracy… and failed to present proof to show that the victim suffered from an inferior physical condition from which the circumstance can be inferred.”

According to Datu III’s lawyer, Jay de Castro, the defense lawyers posted bail and would fetch the accused from the Makati City Jail later Friday.

“There was really no abuse of superior strength right from the start,” De Castro told the Inquirer.

The next hearing of the case is set for March 7.