Tuesday, December 05, 2006 Cop in motel-car incident slapped with 3-month suspension
PO2 Junicar Estiñoso, was slapped with a three-month suspension while facing summary dismissal proceedings by the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID).
He made headlines for using a Cebu City Hall-issued Toyota Innova van in going to a motel last Oct. 19, Estiñoso’s preventive suspension took effect last Dec. 1 and will last until Feb. 28, 2007.
Senior Supt. Alex Castro, chief of the Personnel and Human Resource and Doctrine Division, issued a memorandum order last Dec. 1 on Estiñoso’s suspension based on the recommendation of the RIID and was approved by Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Silverio Alarcio Jr. last Nov. 15.
Estiñoso has been stripped of his badge, identification card and issued firearm following the issuance of the order.
RIID Chief Augusto Marquez Jr. told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday they will try to finish Estiñoso’s summary dismissal proceedings within his 90-day suspension.
Estiñoso, who was formerly detailed as an operative of the Mobile Patrol Group of the Cebu City Police Office, is facing charges of conduct unbecoming of a police officer and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of a public employee for allegedly using an Innova van in going inside Queensland Hotel last Oct. 19 together with his girlfriend.
The Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB) headed by Supt. Pablo Labra II earlier conducted the pre-charge investigation on Estiñoso and found probable cause to charge him with the two alleged offenses.
Denial
Estiñoso had denied going inside the motel with his girlfriend.
He said he went to the motel to relieve himself because he was suffering from an upset stomach.
The motel incident irked Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña that he decided to recall the 10 Innova vans he had donated to the city police.
He also wanted Estiñoso dismissed from the service as well as the rookie policeman, PO1 MC Stuart Balang, whom Estiñoso had asked to drive the van back to the MPG Headquarters.
Osmeña changed his mind and gave back the vans to the police more than two weeks later. (JST)
