Saturday, February 16, 2008 Full occupancy forces motel staff to refuse police official
A ranking police official got mad when the staff of a motel in Talisay City barred him from checking in for a night's sleep on Valentines Day.
Believing his right to stay overnight was violated, Supt. Alexander Abadinas, police community relations office chief at Camp Sergio Osmeña, had the incident recorded in the Talisay City Police Station.
Abadinas told Sun.Star that he was supposed to pass the night at Queensland Motel as he was already tired and sleepy after a few rounds of beer.
Also, it was raining hard that night, not advisable for him to drive home his vehicle to Minglanilla town, he added.
Abadinas said he drank beer with friends at a machine shop on the intersection of Lawaan Highway and Pooc road, which is near the Queensland Motel.
He said his auto mechanic-friend even drove him to Queensland but a room boy barred him from checking in right after his vehicle had entered the motel entrance.
Abadinas said the room attendant told him that the motel management allowed only a two-hour time limit, not overnight stay, on Valentines Day.
The police official said he explained that he would just pay the excess fee beyond two hours as he wanted only to pass the night to no avail.
A hotel supervisor also meddled but Abadinas said he got irked because the former refused to identify himself.
At this instance, Abadinas said he called up Talisay City Police Station Chief Romeo Perigo, who then ordered his men to respond.
Abadinas found it unfair not to allow him to check in when the motel accommodates customers for an overnight stay during ordinary days.
Sought for comment, Mario Cuyno, Queensland Motel Talisay branch manager, said it was not their intention not to accommodate Abadinas, only all their rooms were full.
He confirmed that on special days, like Valentines, all the five Queensland Motels in Metro Cebu allow only a two-hour short time stay, not three hours or overnight, with the same rate of P270.
“We follow only the hotel management policy,” Cuyno added.
Cuyno said he and his staff are willing to explain their side should Abadinas formalize his complaint against the motel management. GC
