Manager Wenn V. Deramas pulled out his talent, DJ Durano, from the production for alleged unfair treatment. Deramas said Deejay was hired as supporting actor, but he was only used as extra. Wenn said they accepted the Baler project despite the minimal talent fee, believing that Deejay would have a good role. Also for 10 straight days, Deejay's call time was 7 a.m., yet the actor had to wait for 10 hours for his take, the manager/director claimed. Wenn said he had to sacrifice the filming of Ang tanging ina n'yong lahat (2008) due to Deejay's absence for the filming of Baler.
The Office of the Philippine Ombudsman, in 2003, ordered the indictment of then Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chair Efraim Genuino, his son Erwin, and six other officials of the state-run gaming firm for malversation and graft charges in connection to a multimillion-peso promotion deal for the movie. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said the government incurred loses when the PAGCOR advanced the cost for 89,000 movie tickets at P300 each or a total of P26,700,000. The Ombudsman said there were 72,150 unused tickets in the amount of P21,645,000 plus the transmitted sales commission of P474,510, which totaled P22,119,510 representing marketing expenses. PAGCOR also spent an advertising expense of P2,064,989.30. Genuino's son Erwin is the executive producer of Baler.
Second Anne Curtis film to be supported and sponsored by Ginebra San Miguel Inc. through its GSM Blue product, after the 2007 Viva/Star Cinema collaboration Ang cute ng ina mo! (2007) and before the 2009 Viva/GMA collaboration In Your Eyes (2010) and the 2011 Viva production Who's That Girl? (2011) (together with Magnolia Lifedrink beverage).