Release of ‘bomb supplier’ surprises Cebu judge

CEBU — A local Regional Trial Court judge has expressed surprise why suspected bomb supplier Antonio Reyes was able to post bail last Saturday.

Judge Ireneo Gako said he was surprised upon reading a report that Reyes had posted bail when in fact the suspect still has a pending motion in his sala for reduction of the bail which the prosecutor’s office had recommended.

The prosecutor’s office has yet to comment on Reyes’ motion.

A former Moro Islamic Liberation Front member has tagged Reyes as the one who allegedly helped international terrorist Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi procure explosives used in the Rizal Day bombing in Metro Manila three years ago.

Reyes was arrested in Bohol last Aug. 12.

Last Saturday, Judge Ramon Codilla Jr., who was the judge on duty, allowed Reyes to post a surety bond of P25,000.

Gako said the release could be considered irregular considering the fact that the case has been raffled to his sala.

While an accused can post bail with any judge, he said this can be done only if the case has not yet been raffled off to a particular sala.

Gako, however, said Codilla could not be blamed for the release because he may not have been informed that Reyes’ case has been raffled off to his (Gako’s) sala.

He said it should have been the responsibility of the accused to tell Codilla about it. In fact, Reyes was already arraigned last week.

"I was very much surprised... the accused (acted) in bad faith," Gako said.

Gako said he would order Reyes’ lawyer to explain in court during the pre-trial on Thursday why they had to post bail with another judge when they know that he is the one handling the case. — Freeman News Service