Essentials in one line: You may ask the court to reduce bail at any time before final judgment—most commonly immediately after bail is first fixed (by inquest resolution, by the court upon delivery of the accused, or after filing of the Information). The motion is addressed to judicial discretion under Rule 114 (amount-of-bail guidelines) and the constitutional ban on excessive bail; it requires notice and hearing, with the prosecutor given a chance to comment. Drug cases add special wrinkles (some are non-bailable as a matter of right, some bailable, and bail after conviction becomes discretionary).

Below is a timeline you can actually run, with legal bases, evidentiary expectations, and templates.

1) Legal bases that control timing and outcome

Constitution, Art. III, Sec. 13: “All persons, except those charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment when evidence of guilt is strong, shall, before conviction, be bailable… Excessive bail shall not be required.”
Rule 114 (Bail), Rules of Criminal Procedure:
- When bail is a matter of right vs. discretion.
- Amount-of-bail guidelines (nature of offense, penalty, character, financial capacity, probability of appearing, prior forfeitures, etc.).
- Hearing: The prosecutor must be heard; in non-bailable offenses, a bail hearing is mandatory and summary of evidence must appear on record.
RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act): Penalties determine bailability:
- Typically non-bailable (subject to evidence-strong test): offenses punishable by life imprisonment (e.g., sale/trading, certain manufacture/maintenance offenses, possession/syndicated-scale offenses above statutory thresholds).
- Bailable as a matter of right (before conviction): lesser-penalty offenses (e.g., simple possession below certain thresholds, use, paraphernalia in non-aggravated settings), subject to court-fixed bail.

Consequence for timing:

If bailable, you can immediately move to reconsider or reduce the amount once it is first fixed.
If non-bailable offense is charged, you first need to apply for bail (the court must test whether evidence of guilt is strong). If the court grants bail and fixes an amount you believe is excessive, you then move to reduce it under Rule 114’s amount-of-bail guidelines.

2) Procedural moments when reduction is typically sought

After inquest / upon delivery to court (Day 0–1):
- Police arrest → inquest prosecutor recommends bail amount in the referral.
- Once Information is filed and the accused is brought to court, the judge fixes bail (or notes the inquest recommendation).
- Defense may file—right away—a Motion to Reduce Bail (same day), attaching proof of indigency/financial capacity and proposing a realistic amount.
At the first court appearance / commitment (Day 1–3):
- Court issues commitment order; clerk computes and informs the amount.
- File the motion and ask the court to set it for hearing on the earliest calendar, with shortened notice for urgency.
After a bail grant in a non-bailable drug charge (post-hearing):
- If the court grants bail after finding that evidence of guilt is not strong, but sets a steep amount, you may seek reduction citing the very findings of the court and Rule 114 factors.
Change of circumstances (any time pre-judgment):
- Worsening health, acute poverty, voluntary surrender, long pre-trial detention, or downgrading of charge → basis to renew a reduction motion.
After conviction:
- Bail pending appeal is discretionary, generally restricted when the penalty exceeds 6 years; in serious drug convictions (often life imprisonment), post-conviction bail is ordinarily unavailable. If the conviction is for a lower-penalty drug offense, you may seek bail pending appeal, and argue for a low amount using Rule 114 factors plus exceptional circumstances (e.g., age, health, length of detention, no flight risk).

3) Practical timeline (day-by-day map)

Assumptions: warrantless arrest for a drug offense; inquest conducted; Information filed within the Article 125 periods; case raffled to RTC.

Day 0 (Arrest / Inquest):
- Accused booked; inquest prosecutor recommends bail (if bailable).
- Defense starts gathering proof of means: certificate of indigency, pay slips, barangay certs, affidavits, medical records, family dependents’ proof.
Day 1 (Filing of Information / Raffle / First Court Control):
- Court notes recommended bail or fixes an initial amount.
- Defense files Motion to Reduce Bail immediately, serving the prosecutor the same day.
- Ask for hearing at the earliest setting; move that 3-day written notice be shortened for urgency (courts often accommodate in custody cases).
Day 2–5 (Hearing window):
- Hearing on the motion. The prosecutor is heard.
- Defense tenders evidence (see §5) and argues Rule 114 factors and constitutional excessiveness.
- Court may resolve from the bench or issue a short order within a few days.
If non-bailable charge:
- Before any reduction can be discussed, the court conducts a full bail hearing on whether evidence of guilt is strong. Prosecution goes first; defense may cross-examine and offer evidence.
- If bail is denied: no reduction to argue.
- If bail is granted: move right after the grant to reduce the amount if excessive.
Thereafter (rolling):
- Renew reduction motion if circumstances change (charge amended to lesser offense; witness retractions; medical crises; extended detention due to congestion).

Key timing yardsticks:

There is no fixed statutory “X-day” deadline to file a motion to reduce bail—the earlier, the better.
Motions require notice and hearing. Standard 3-day notice may be shortened upon good cause (custody/indigency).
Courts are expected to act promptly on bail matters because liberty is at stake.

4) What the court weighs in reducing the amount (Rule 114 factors)

Cite and prove the following, with documents:

Financial capacity of the accused (not family’s theoretical assets).
Nature and circumstances of the offense (e.g., no violence; user-level quantity; first-time offender).
Penalty prescribed (lower maximums justify lower bail).
Weight of the evidence (weak chain of custody, irregular buy-bust, doubtful identification → lower risk, lower bail).
Character and reputation (stable residence, job, dependents, school).
Age and health (youth, advanced age, chronic illness).
Probability of appearance (voluntary surrender, no prior flight, prior compliance with subpoenas).
Prior forfeitures or fugitive status (none → supportive).
Other circumstances (pre-trial detention already long; docket congestion; humanitarian factors).

Link these to the constitutional bar on excessive bail: if bail prices liberty out of reach, it becomes excessive.

5) Evidence pack to attach with the motion

Affidavit of Indigency / Means, plus:
- Barangay certificate; pay slips; employer letter; tax return; DSWD indigency cert; household expenses/budget sheet.
Proof of roots: lease or land tax, barangay residency, IDs, birth certificates of dependents, school certs.
Medical records: chronic illness, disability, prescriptions.
Voluntary surrender / arrest minutes indicating non-flight.
Case-specific weaknesses (for amount assessment): photos, dispatch sheets, blotter entries, body-cam omissions, chain-of-custody gaps (to argue weight of evidence is not strong).
Proposed bail amount with computation (e.g., daily wage × 60; or comparative matrix of similar cases in that branch).

6) Special features of drug cases affecting bail and its reduction

Non-bailable by penalty, but not automatic denial: For offenses punishable by life imprisonment, bail requires a hearing; the prosecution bears the burden to show evidence of guilt is strong. If the court finds it is not, it grants bail—then you may press for a reasonable amount (not a punitive one).
Chain-of-custody vulnerabilities (marking, inventory, photographing, DOJ/PNP witnesses, unjustified deviations) affect the weight-of-evidence factor—relevant when calibrating amount.
Quantity & role matter: user-level possession vs. sale/transport/maintenance; lack of aggravating factors supports lower bail.
After conviction: Many drug convictions exceed 6 years, so bail pending appeal is rare and requires exceptional circumstances. A motion to reduce (rather than grant) bail typically presupposes that bail pending appeal has already been allowed.

7) Hearing mechanics and prosecutor’s participation

Notice & hearing are required. Even for a reduction (as opposed to initial grant), the prosecutor must be heard or at least duly served and given a chance to comment.
Shortened notice: Move to shorten the 3-day rule citing custody and indigency; attach proof of service (email + personal service).
Summary resolution is common**:** Courts often decide from the bench after brief argument, especially where documentary proof of indigency is solid and the prosecutor does not oppose (or opposes perfunctorily).

8) Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

Bare, unproved pleas of poverty → Always attach documents.
No concrete amount proposed → Offer a specific number with a reasoned basis.
Skipping notice to the prosecutor → Risk of denial; serve properly and move to shorten time.
Arguing the merits of acquittal at a reduction hearing → Keep it focused on Rule 114 factors; do not convert it into a mini-trial (unless you are in a non-bailable bail hearing).
Serial motions without changed circumstances → If first motion was denied with reasons, show what changed (charge downgraded, new medical proof, new employment, extended detention).

9) Playbook you can use tomorrow (checklist)

[ ] Get copies: Information, commitment order, initial bail amount.
[ ] Build the means & roots packet (IDs, payslips, residency, dependents).
[ ] Draft Motion to Reduce Bail citing Rule 114 factors + anti-excessive bail clause; propose specific amount.
[ ] Serve prosecutor (email + hard copy).
[ ] File motion immediately; ask to shorten notice and set hearing at earliest date.
[ ] Prepare oral highlights; bring original documents.
[ ] If denied, request written order; assess re-file on changed circumstances or consider Rule 65 (grave abuse) in exceptional cases.

10) Short templates (adapt to your facts)

A) Motion to Reduce Bail (core prayer)

ACCUSED, through counsel, respectfully moves to REDUCE BAIL, on the following grounds:

1) Bail of ₱________ was fixed on __________ in this case for [offense], which is [bailable as a matter of right / bailable per Order dated ____ finding that evidence of guilt is not strong].

2) Under Rule 114 (Amount of Bail; Guidelines) and the Constitution’s proscription against excessive bail, the present amount is excessive given:
   (a) Accused’s financial capacity: [facts; attach proof];
   (b) Nature/circumstances of offense: [no violence; user-level; first-time];
   (c) Prescribed penalty: [cite];
   (d) Weight of evidence: [brief, non-argumentative points];
   (e) Character/roots/health/age: [facts; attach proof];
   (f) Probability of appearance: [voluntary surrender; stable residence].

3) A reasonable bail is ₱________, which balances the State’s interest and Accused’s right to pre-trial liberty.

PRAYER: Reduce bail to ₱________ and allow posting of [cash/surety/property] bond accordingly.

[Counsel’s signature]

B) Urgent Motion to Shorten Notice (for early hearing)

Given Accused’s continued detention and indigency, and considering that the prosecutor has been served today [attach proof], Accused prays that the 3-day notice be shortened and that hearing be set at the earliest calendar.

11) Key takeaways

When to file: Immediately after bail is first fixed, after a grant in non-bailable drug charges, or whenever circumstances change—any time before final judgment.
What you need: Notice & hearing, a documented story of means and roots, and Rule 114-based arguments against excessive bail.
Drug-case twist: Determine first whether the charge is non-bailable by penalty. If so, win the bail hearing (evidence-not-strong) before arguing reduction.
Be concrete: Propose a specific, defensible figure; bail is not punishment and cannot be made unreachable.

If you give me the charge (section), initial bail amount, court, and your proof of means, I can draft a tailored motion, a one-page evidence index, and hearing talking points you can file right away.