Detained activists Reina Mae Nasino and two other political prisoners have asked the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) to reduce the bail by half.

In the joint motion, Nasino and companion Alma Moran prayed to slash the bail bound to Php 210,000 and Ram Carlo Bautista asked to lower it to Php 285,000.

“With all due respect, the bail amounts disproportionately impact the accused by reason of their economic status and place undue burdens to their enjoyment of the constitutional right to be presumed innocent - a matter that is within the power of the Honorable court to prevent. In reality, such enormous bail amounts, taking into full account their circumstances, would render such access to bail practically nugatory,” the motion reads.

The Manila RTC Branch 47 has earlier set Php 420,000 each for Nasino and Moran while Bautista will post bail of Php 570,000.

According to the motion, the three prisoners have “no other source of income and have relied on support from their families, fellow activists, and concerned citizens.”

“They also come from low-income, working-class families. In addition to their inability to pay the amounts set for bail due to their chosen advocacy, the accused's character and reputation as activists demonstrate that they have strong ties to the community and will not be flight risks,” it reads.

The joint motion was filed by their counsel and family relatives before the court on Wednesday morning.

On Tuesday, the Manila court released an order granting the joint petition for bail filed by the three accused due to the failure of the prosecution to prove evidence of guilt was strong.

In 2019, Nasino, Moran, and Bautista were arrested in Tondo, Manila, over alleged fabricated charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.