Monday, October 30, 2006 Seares: ‘Motel cop’ and that car By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
PO2 Junicar Estiñoso probably never expected the torrent of publicity over an “innocent” trip to a motel.
There are many sins that can get a cop into trouble. Playing hooky by leaving his post isn’t the most grievous, especially when no serious crime results from the lark (no murder, extortion, or other larceny).
But Estiñoso didn’t reckon with the car that took him to the motel.
Didn’t he know how police officials fussed over the 10 new Toyota Innovas from Cebu City Hall? The order was for the cars not to be used to ferry wounded crime victims or drunk suspects as they might soil seat covers. HWC: handle with care.
Had Estiñoso used a decrepit police car, not an Innova for the summit, its smashup with a taxicab wouldn’t have set off noise and fury. Over that and other offenses.
He used a public vehicle and a police driver to take him and his girlfriend to a motel.
Call of nature
He claimed he had an upset stomach and went there to relieve himself. That’s true about relieving himself but ’twas a different call of nature entirely.
Then there’s the charge he kicked and punched the cab driver, aside from ordering the removal of the two cars from motel premises.
Desertion, illicit sex, dishonesty, and physical abuse by a cop. And Estiñoso is stunned about the bad press he’s getting?
If only he wasn’t stingy with cab fare — and didn’t use that Innova.
