It is worth looking back at previous Supreme Court resolutions: one, allowing hospital arrest to a former president on ground of poor health (in a case where she was later on exonerated on demurrer) and the other, granting bail to a senator on humanitarian consideration, a ground which was not even invoked by him in his bail petition.
Immediately after her release, the former president went business-as-usual as a member of the House of Representatives without the telltale signs of one suffering from an alleged serious neck ailment who went through the rigors of years of incarceration.
For his part, the senator who is now enjoying temporary freedom by virtue of the bail granted went the same route: discharging his duties and responsibilities as a member of the Senate without exhibiting any sign of an old and sickly nonagenarian.
He was even seen lawyering for Imee Marcos during one congressional hearing. No doubt, he is hale and hearty.
Will not those personal circumstances merit a second hard look by the Supreme Court to enable it to determine with a decent degree of precision the parameters of any future grant of bail and other court privileges?
BENJIE GUERRERO, Business Center, Sulo Riviera, Diliman, Quezon City