SENIOR Police Officer 1 Joshua Barile, who is facing complaints for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives and drugs, was released from detention last December 7 upon the order of the Regional Trial Court Branch 42 in Bacolod City.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Bacolod head Renoir Baldovino confirmed this on December 12, citing the court order signed by Judge Fernando Elumba last week.
The court granted the petition for habeas corpus filed by his wife.
Barile was placed under hospital arrest after suffering from hypertension last month.
Baldovino said Barile was confined in a hospital for more than two weeks before he was released from detention last Thursday.
Barile was arrested last September 22 after joint operatives of the NBI, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Philippine National Police raided his house at Regent Pearl Homes in Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City.
The operation resulted in the confiscation of more than 50 firearms, including M16 and M4 assault rifles, four grenades, more than 1,000 assorted ammunition, and a sachet containing suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride).
Barile said these were evidence from the raids conducted by his unit, and these were placed in his house for safekeeping. However, the NBI said the police officer has no documents to support his claim.
Despite the recent court order, Baldovino said the criminal complaints for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives and drugs are still pending before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
He added that they are still waiting for the resolution of the DOJ.
Barile is also facing two murder complaints after he was linked to the killing of the father and younger brother of Negros Island top drug suspect Ricky Serenio, the alleged bagman of Berya drug group, which the police officer vehemently denied.