By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A witness named in the murder charges filed against a policeman surrounding the murder of the brother and father of former Berya drug group bagman Ricky Serenio surfaced over the weekend and recanted his earlier statements.

Raffy Aquiling held a press conference claiming he was “bothered by his conscience” and admitted to not being at the scene of the crime when the incident happened.

The witness claimed Serenio approached him and he was “talking into” signing the affidavit against Senior Police Officer 1 Joshua Barile.

The police officer previously denied any involvement in the crime that left Serenio’s brother Wilmar and father Wilfredo dead.

Aquiling added, he was given P10,000 by Serenio at the home of “a certain mayor of Negros Occidental.”

Serenio was released from detention last March after posting P400,000 bail.

Aquiling also asked for Barile’s forgiveness.

Watchmen Daily Journal tried contacting Serenio and the involved mayor, but they have yet to respond as of press time./DGB, WDJ