Sunday, October 22, 2006 Literally, rookie policeman didn’t know what he got into By Jovy S. Taghoy Sun.Star Staff Reporter
IF there is one thing that PO1 MC Stuart Balang could be faulted for, it is his being naïve and unfamiliar with the places in Cebu City.
Balang, 26, a rookie policeman of San Jose, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, was part of the augmentation force from Western Mindanao (Region 9) that arrived in Cebu last August to help secure the Asean summit in December.
He was detailed to the Mobile Patrol Group of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO). The past week, he landed in the news for driving a City Hall-issued Toyota Innova van that figured in a vehicular accident on his way out of a motel at 5:45 a.m. last Thursday.
The van was driven by PO2 Junicar Estiñoso when it entered Queensland Hotel. Balang, being of lower rank, was Estiñoso’s back-up.
As a result, Balang and Estiñoso were relieved of their duties and transferred to the Regional Headquarters Security Group 7 pending the result of an investigation.
Balang confided to his immediate regional supervisor, Insp. Braulio Rojonan Jr., the circumstances that led to the accident.
In an interview with Sun.Star Cebu at the One Citilink Terminal, the designated shelter of the police augmentation force, Rojonan said Balang did not know that the establishment Estiñoso had entered was a motel.
Balang narrated to Rojonan that Estiñoso entered the motel without even explaining to the rookie policeman his purpose.
“Estiñoso just told Balang to return the van. Balang could not say no because Estiñoso has a higher rank,” Rojonan said.
Estiñoso and Balang were about to end their tour of duty at 6 a.m.
Estiñoso earlier said he dropped by the motel to relieve himself as he was suffering from an upset stomach.
Rojonan said Balang is worried about his fate because as a rookie policeman, his status is still probationary. A new policeman has to wait for one year from graduation to get regular status.
Rojonan said he advised Balang to tell the truth as this is the only way he could be cleared of any liability.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña recalled all the 10 Innova vans issued to the CCPO as a result of the incident.
Osmeña wants Estiñoso kicked out from the service and Balang sent back to Western Mindanao.
Cebu City Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. said they will stand by their recommendation that Balang should be sent back to his mother unit in Region 9.
Pe said that aside from shouldering the expenses for the van’s repairs, Estiñoso will be recommended for dismissal from service.
“He has a bigger responsibility because his rank is PO2, while Balang is only PO1 and not from Cebu,” he added.
Rojonan said the incident involving Balang, although isolated, should serve as a lesson for all rookie policemen to learn how to say no if they feel that the order of their senior police officer is already irregular.
“I told them not to allow themselves to be used,” Rojonan said.(With RHM)
