Lawyer accused of rape out on bail

CEBU, Philippines — Former radio broadcaster and lawyer Juril Patiño, who is accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2017, was released from jail Monday after the court allowed him to post bail.

His legal counsel, Atty. Aven Piramide, confirmed Patiño’s release but refused to give additional details. Patiño has also declined media interviews, saying he just want to have peace.

“We need peace with my family,” reads Patiño’s text to The Freeman when asked about the details of his release.

Patiño posted on Facebook last Monday a photo with his wife and friends having dinner at the Larsian in Fuente Osmeña with a caption “Glory to God in the highest.”

It was not immediately known how much bail was set by the court for his temporary liberty. Rape is supposed to be a non-bailable offense but bail is allowed if the accused is able to convince the court that the evidence of the prosecution is weak.

The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor earlier recommended no bail against Patiño after prosecutor Alex Gabud found sufficient ground to indict him before the court.

To recall, the victim claimed she was raped on July 4, 2017 but only reported it to the Parian Police Station eight days later because of fear. She was accompanied by her mother when they went to the police station.

Allegedly, the girl went to the radio station where the accused worked to look for her mother’s employer, who happened to be the colleague of the latter.

Patiño allegedly entertained the girl because her mother’s employer was out of town.

The victim alleged that she was there to ask money from her mother’s employer that she would use for her school project.

When she learned that her mother’s employer was not around, she allegedly asked P7 from Patiño for her fare back home, but the accused allegedly said his money was in his car.

Allegedly, she decided to leave but the accused told her to come with him in his car to get his money. With the girl on board, the accused then drove his car to Zamora Street in Barangay Parian where the alleged crime was committed. FPL (FREEMAN)