Cop relieved over unpaid bar tab

A Pasay police community precinct commander was relieved from his post after he allegedly used his position to avoid paying for food and drinks in Malate, Manila yesterday.

Chief Inspector Rizalino Padrique, of PCP 3, has been spared from criminal charges after the complainant reportedly agreed to an amicable settlement, but he still has to face administrative sanctions for his actions.

Apart from issuing the temporary relief order, city police chief Senior Superintendent Rosendo Franco also directed the station’s legal unit to conduct their own investigation.

"We want to send a strong message that involvement of a police official in an incident as small as this would cause him a lot. Even if we still have to prove his guilt, we will relieve him for the meantime," Franco said in an interview.

Padrique was with relatives at the Cowboy Grill restaurant and allegedly refused to pay the bill amounting to P4,000, insisting that the food and drinks be on the house.

This prompted employees of the bar to call the Manila police, which immediately responded and brought Padrique to the station.

Padrique claimed that it was all a misunderstanding, saying the employees thought he was leaving his bill unpaid when he actually just stepped out to withdraw cash from an ATM.

Franco said they would find out what really happened through the investigation and apply penalties if necessary.

"If we prove that he really took advantage of his position, he could be demoted or even transferred to another unit," the city police chief explained.