Estrada loyalist granted bail

A Manila judge granted a staunch supporter of jailed President Joseph Estrada to post bail, pending the resolution of rebellion charges that stemmed from "EDSA 3," which led to a bloody riot near Malacañang on May 1, 2001.

Judge Reynaldo Alhambra of Regional Trial Court Branch 53 said the charges filed by the government against Ronald Lumbao appeared to be "inconclusive."

"The court finds the evidence (of the prosecution) inconclusive to the crime charged," Alhambra said in a five-page resolution. The judge set Lumbao bail to P300,000.

Lumbao’s lawyer JV Bautista welcomed the decision of the court. "It’s about time that Ronald be allowed to go out of jail," Bautista said. Lumbao will be out of jail tomorrow noon.

Lumbao, president of the People’s Movement Against Poverty (PMAO) has been locked up at the Manila City Jail facing rebellion charges. – Cecille Suerte Felipe