Salisi Gang members granted bail

MANILA, Philippines - A Pasig City prosecutor allowed three alleged members of the Salisi Gang to post bail Wednesday.

Prosecutor Randy Esteban set bail at P30,000 but granted a request by the three suspects’ lawyer and lowered it to P15,000.

Esteban ordered the release for further investigation of a fourth suspect, Nora Ascaño, after he found no strong evidence linking her to the other suspects – Melania Masadlak, 54; Joan Goho, 32; and Jean Pamalias, 35.

The four women were charged with theft for taking the shoulder bag of Maria Veronica Kalaw, 41, a retired chemist, at the Ortigas Commercial Center on Aug. 23.

Senior Inspector Oscar Mansibang of the Eastern Police District (EPD) did not allow Masadlak, Goho and Pamalias to leave jail after a Manila court ordered them arrested for failing to attend hearings in another theft case. They were arrested in Manila on March 23, 2011 and gave false names.

He said two other complainants are set to file charges against the three for allegedly taking close to P1 million in cash and jewelry from them on separate occasions.