Cop confirms gun seized from suspect in former gov’s slay

In a move to bolster its evidence, the prosecution yesterday presented before the court the police officer who recovered the caliber 45 pistol and rounds of ammunition from the suspect in the murder of former Biliran Danilo Parilla in 2006. 

PO2 Junicar Estiñoso, who was among those who arrested Eugenio Corpin a few minutes after Parilla was shot and killed when he stepped down from an inter-island vessel upon his arrival at the Cebu City port on September 7, 2006, said they recovered four rounds of live ammunition from the right pocket of Corpin’s pants.

The other rounds of ammunition - all for .45 caliber pistol - were found in the bag carried by the accused at the time of his arrest.

Estiñoso even identified the firearm when it was showed to him by private prosecutor Ferdinand Dungog. The gun is presently kept by the personnel of the PNP Crime Laboratory Service, but it was brought to the court yesterday as evidence.

Also recovered from Corpin’s possession at the time of his arrest was a 1100 Nokia cellular phone that, according to Estiñoso, contains some messages about the plans to kill Parilla.

After the brief direct examination conducted by Dungog, the court allowed defense counsel Sisinio Andales to cross-examine the prosecution witness.

But before his cross-examination, Andales asked Estiñoso if he is the policeman also named Junicar Estiñoso who became controversial for using a police car in going to a motel with a woman that figured in an accident.

Estiñoso did not give a categorical reply to the question but only told Andales, “Imo man kong pakauwawan, sir.”

The police officer, however, admitted that he has been found liable of an administrative case and was ordered dismissed from the service, but the case is still under appeal.

“Gusto lang nako nga sutaon ang iyang credibility kon dili ba siya mamakak,” Andales explained on his question to Estiñoso.

 A few months ago, prosecution witness Marilyn Tagal testified in court that she saw how Corpin shot and killed the 52-year-old Parilla.

She said she was following the victim while disembarking from a vessel coming from Naval town in Leyte when the incident happened. - Rene U. Borromeo/LPM