MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – A lawyer of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile said the senator will be posting bail worth P1,450,000, after the Supreme Court (SC) granted his petition for temporary liberty.

“He will be posting P1 million for the plunder case and P450,000 for graft,” Enrile’s lawyer Eleazar Reyes told reporters in Sandiganbayan past 12 pm on Wednesday, August 19.

The 91-year-old senator faces plunder and 15 counts of graft before the anti-graft court in connection with the pork barrel corruption scandal. The bail recommendation for each of Enrile’s 15 counts of graft is at P30,000.

On August 18, the High Court voted 8-4 in favor of Enrile’s petition for bail, overturning a Sandiganbayan decision that previously denied the senator’s petition for temporary liberty.

Rappler learned that Justice Lucas Bersamin, the ponente (writer) of the decision, argued that Enrile should be granted bail based on humanitarian grounds. (READ: Behind the SC decision on Enrile’s bail)

Lawyer Dennis Pulma, clerk of court at the Sandiganbayan’s 3rd division, said that once they receive the official SC decision, the court will issue an order “addressed to the CIDG, the PNP, the PNP hospital, or the custodian of Senator Enrile to bring him over for the posting of bail.”

Enrile would have to be physically present to fill up some forms, submit his mugshots, and provide payment for the bail. A release order needs to be approved by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang.

The Sandiganbayan, which holds office in Quezon City, is supposed to be closed on Wednesday because August 19 is Quezon City Day, a local holiday. However, personnel from the 3rd division and other departments remained open in anticipation of the SC order and Enrile’s arrival.

Enrile remained under hospital arrest in Camp Crame on Wednesday, however, as the Sandiganbayan did not receive an official copy of the SC’s order allowing him to post bail during court hours, which closed at 5 pm.

Reyes, who was expecting the High Court to issue the resolution on Wednesday, said the senator is likely to proceed to his residence in Dasmariñas Village in Makati City upon his release.

He added that Enrile “wants to go back to work” at the Senate and is “on very high spirits.”

Enrile’s close ally, Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, also said Enrile will be attending the Senate session on Monday should he successfully post bail this week. – Rappler.com