Controversial cop out on bail

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – A controversial police officer facing a string of criminal cases was released on bail Monday.

Police Master Sergeant Joshua Barile gained temporary liberty after his lawyer Jomax Ortiz posted a P200,000 bail for the charges of illegal  possession of explosives.

Ortiz earlier lambasted Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Bacolod head Major Egbert Nagrampa for allegedly defying a court order for Barile’s release.

Ortiz told Daily Guardian here that Judge Eduardo Sayson issued the release order Saturday which was also served by the court sheriff to the BJMP on the same day.

But he said Nagrampa did not sign the release order citing “vague procedures.”

Barile was finally released at around 10:55 a.m. Monday.

The case stemmed from the raid conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation on Barile’s house in 2019 where guns, ammunitions, and grenades were reportedly recovered.

But Barile claimed that the recoveries were “planted.”

He was also charged for illegal possession of illegal drugs.

But Barile said the charges were dismissed for lack of evidence.

He said he was charged for five counts of illegal possession of explosives which the court reduced to one count.

Barile was implicated in the illegal drug trade by self-confessed Berya drug group bagman Ricky Serenio who was gunned early this year.

He was earlier accused of murdering Serenio’ father and sibling. But the case was reduced to homicide and he was allowed to post bail.

Barile was also one of the policemen accused by former Pulupandan  Mayor Magdaleno Peña for the raid at the latter’s house several years back where a cache of firearms were recovered.

He was also implicated in the ambush of former lawyer – now assistant provincial prosecutor Erfe Del Castillo.