Dismissed policeman Junicar Estiñoso cannot seem to stay away from trouble.
The former Police Officer 2, who got into trouble for after a vehicular accident involving a police car outside a motel, has been arrested for illegal possession of firearms.
Estiñoso was arrested last Wednesday night inside his house by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 led by Sr. Insp. Patrick Vaño.
Sr. Supt. Jose Jorge Corpus, regional officer of the CIDG-7 told reporters yesterday that they have received reports that in spite of having been dismissed from the service two months ago, Estiñoso has reportedly still been seen tucking a gun.
The CIDG-7 obtained a search warrant for violation of RA 8294 or the illegal possession of firearms against Estiñoso issued by RTC Branch 9 judge Geraldine Faith Econg.
Raiders seized from Estiñoso’s house in sitio San Roque, barangay Sambag Dos, a .45 caliber pistol and a 9 millimeter pistol and live bullets, empty shells, .38 caliber revolver speed-loaders and several drug paraphernalia.
Estiñoso told The Freeman that he is keeping a gun for security as protection against those he arrested when he was still in the service, but denied being a drug user and claimed there was no drug paraphernalia in his house.
He also denied ‘displaying’ his gun to the public because he knows that he is no longer a policeman.
He suspects that woman, who wants to go after his neck, is behind this latest mess.
Estiñoso was once assigned to the Mobile Patrol Group of the Cebu City Police Office, but was ordered out of the city police by Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
He got the ire of Osmeña after allowing a field training policeman drive the Toyota Innova patrol car, which figured in an accident with a taxicab just outside Queensland Motel at the North Reclamation Area.
The patrol car, which was being driven by PO1 Mac Stuart Balang hit a parked taxi after dropping off Estiñosa and his alleged girlfriend at the motel.
Investigators found out through PO1 Balang’s testimonies that Estiñoso asked to be dropped off the motel with his girlfriend minutes before their duty schedule was to end.
Estiñoso however denied that there was a woman with and claimed he had an upset stomach prompting him to use the toilet at the motel.
He was recommended for dismissal from the service by the summary hearing officer Supt. Daniel Sales last November 29 because of weak alibi and his failure to deny the accusations of using the said vehicle for personal use.
But prior to that ruling, there was another decision dated October 24 for his dismissal from the service that was approved by the Police Regional Office-7.
This is related to an incident last summer of another misbehavior committed by Estiñoso involving a woman.
He was accused of mauling that woman inside their vehicle along Gen. Maxilom Avenue in barangay Carreta.
Estiñoso said he received the decision just last November 29 and have already sent an appeal for reconsideration to Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos. — (Edwin Ian Melecio/NLQ)