Taxi operator threatens to file raps vs. cops in motel mishap

The operator of CTC Taxi yesterday said she would file charges against the two policemen whose patrol car hit and damaged the rear portion of a CTC cab outside a motel on General Maxilom Street at barangay Carreta last October 19.

CTC Taxi's Ann Corominas, said Lourdeso Castro, the cabbie who figured in that mishap with the policemen's car, had reported to her office Tuesday morning explaining that he stayed for days in his house at Danao City after the incident for fear of his life.

Corominas said she got angry when Castro told her that the two policemen beat him up after the mishap. She said the policemen were unfortunate to meet an operator who is willing to protect the firm's drivers especially if the latter did not commit any wrong.

Castro said he was waiting for a passenger near the motel's exit and when the patrol car hit the taxi's rear, he tried to call Citom and the CTC office to inform them of what happened.

Castro said PO2 Junicar Estiñoso allegedly grabbed his cellular phone to stop him from calling anybody, then commanded him instead to take the taxi to the Mobile Patrol Group office. The policeman later beat him up, Castro alleged.

Corominas said she will not forgive the policemen and would go on with filing the case against them. She went to the Citom last Tuesday to ask for a report of the mishap so she could file the charges. The case investigator was not there at the time however, she said.

The damages to her taxi unit, its bumper and rearlights, might reach between P8000 and P10,000 in total cost, Corominas said.

Meanwhile, PO1 MC Stuart Balang, the police field trainee from Pagadian City who drove the patrol car that figured in the motel mishap, said he now feels afraid and intimidated every time he sees Estiñoso. He said he is worried to meet Estiñoso at the Police Regional Office-7.

Intelligence chief, Supt. Pablo Labra, urged Balang to help in the investigation against Estiñoso on using the city government-issued Innova patrol cars for personal purposes.

Balang earlier said Estiñoso also asked him to cooperate and defend the latter's version of the incident.

Estiñoso stated, in his affidavit, that at dawn of October 19 he suffered lose-bowel-movement that prompted him to get quickly into a toilet and the nearest place at the time was the motel.

Yesterday's statement of Balang however contradicted Estiñoso's story. After dropping off Estiñoso in the motel allegedly with a woman, Balang then took the car out of the driveway but hit the CTC taxi parked near the exit path.

As this happened, Balang went back to tell Estiñoso about what happened and this infuriated the latter who allegedly confronted and kicked the taxi driver for parking the taxi near the exit way.

Balang insisted that Estiñoso had no stomach problems at the time and was with a woman that they allegedly picked up somewhere in the city that day.

Based on Labra's investigation, Estiñoso reportedly got the woman from Sun Valley in barangay Calamba, and that before going to the motel, Estiñoso went home first to change his uniform to civilian clothes.

What worries Balang now are some news reports that Estiñoso has been blaming the incident at him, and even bringing up the issue of his expired driver's license.

Balang is now afraid of Estiñoso and wanted to return to the One Citilink terminal where he would feel secured with his fellow trainees from Region 9. "Mas maayo nga adto nalang ko sa akong mga classmates kaysa diha sa PRO-7 kay maglikay nalang ko. Ako ra ba iyang giduot," he said.

Labra however denied there were threats. He said Balang only feels unsafe with Estiñoso around as the investigation gets deeper. "Wala gyud siya hulgaa, pero ang feeling niya intimidating kuno kaayo ang presence ni Estiñoso," Labra said.

Labra said Balang might get a lesser punishment than Estiñoso, who might be charged for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman, all of which are punishable with dismissal from service.

Balang had asked forgiveness from Mayor Tomas Osmeña on the damage to the patrol car. He said he drove it upon orders from a superior but he will accept responsibility on what happened to it. - Flor Z. Perolina and Edwin Ian Melecio/RAE