Camanava cop killer falls

After more than three years in hiding, a trader listed in the police order of battle as the No. 6 most wanted criminal in the Camanava (Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela) area, was arrested Friday by the elements of the Northern Police District (NPD) intelligence unit during an operation in Camarines Sur.

Senior Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr., NPD director, identified the suspect as Vicente Bongcayao, 48, a rice dealer, of 134 BMBA Compound, 2nd Avenue, Caloocan City.

Bongcayao is wanted by authorities for a string of criminal activities, including the killing of former Caloocan City policeman Rolando Andres on July 3, 1999.

Bongcayao also has a pending warrant of arrest before the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 120 for a drug offense.

Instead of attending their Christmas party, intelligence agents motored off to Baao, Camarines Sur, following a confirmation from an informant that the fugitive had been spotted in the area.

A six-man team from the District Police Intelligence Unit (DPIU), made up of SPO4 Antonio Tenorio, SPO2s Roberto Molinyawe and Eduardo Año, SPO1 Edgar Pamor, and PO2 Rogelio Libuton and PO2 Rodolfo Cruz, motored to Camarines Sur Friday at the height of NPD’s Christmas party after an informant tipped the NPD of Bongcayao’s presence in that province.

While busy attending to his rice store along Maharlika Highway in Barangay San Francisco in Baao, Bongcayao was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Caloocan City Judge Bayani Rivera. The DPIU agents, under Chief Inspector Sotero Ramos Jr., had coordinated with the Baao police led by PO3 Allan Abendante.

"This is our Christmas gift to district director Franco," Ramos said.

He said Bongcayao migrated to the Bicol province three years ago to escape arrest in connection with crimes committed in Camanava. The wanted man was able to put up a business and established good relationships with a few influential people in the province.

Interviewed inside his cell, Bongcayao denied killing Andres, saying he is now a reformed man just trying to live a normal life.