Drunk driver hits cop on motorbike

MANILA, Philippines - A motorist reportedly rear-ended a policeman on a motorcycle, identified himself as a relative of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and challenged the policeman to a fistfight in Sta. Mesa, Manila Friday night.

Traffic investigators said Albert Lawrence Pineda, who was driving a Honda Civic, was reportedly so drunk that when he stopped for a red light at the corner of R. Magsaysay Boulevard and Santol street, he hit the motorcycle of Senior Police Officer 1 Celso Sorita at around 10:50 p.m. Sorita was in full uniform and was on his way home from the Sta. Mesa police community precinct.

Pineda reportedly got out of the car and started cursing at Sorita, who called his colleagues for backup. Witnesses said Pineda allegedly challenged Sorita to a fistfight and bragged that he was also known to the “Padillas,” but he did not elaborate.

At the Sta. Mesa police station, investigators found Sen. Gregorio Honasan II’s calling card tucked into Pineda’s driver’s license holder.

“He was so arrogant. He kept cursing at the police officer, even if he was in uniform. He boasted that he was a relative of Senator Trillanes,” a witness told investigators.

A few minutes later, a luxury car arrived at the police station and picked up a woman who was with Pineda. According to the police blotter at the MPD-Traffic Enforcement Unit, Pineda and Sorita agreed to settle the case amicably.