Senate OKs no-bond appeals for indigent ejectment repondents

THE Senate has approved on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 70, which seeks to exempt underprivileged and homeless individuals from paying a supersedeas bond when appealing ejectment cases filed against them.

Sponsored by Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the measure allows a barangay-issued certificate of indigency, or similar documents, to be accepted by courts in lieu of the required bond.

The bill aims to ensure that lack of financial resources will not prevent poor and homeless individuals from exercising their right to appeal, particularly when their homes or places of residence are at stake.

SB 70 proposes to amend Republic Act No. 7279, or the Urban Development and Housing Act, to strengthen safeguards for vulnerable individuals facing ejectment proceedings.

Under the measure, the filing of an appeal together with a certificate of indigency or equivalent documents would be sufficient for courts to stay the execution of the judgment.

A supersedeas bond is a financial guarantee posted by an appellant to temporarily stop the enforcement of a judgment while an appeal is pending.

The Senate approval of the measure on August 11 marks another step toward ensuring that access to justice will not depend on a person’s ability to pay.