Rogue officer arrested

It was not the first time he did it and it turned out to be his undoing.

A rogue cop, wanted by the law for being absent without official leave (AWOL), was arrested for firing his gun indiscriminately while under the influence of liquor Thursday in Caloocan City. It was later found out that the suspect has been in hiding since getting charged for robbery and extortion and the alleged salvage attempt of a GMA-7 janitor four months ago.

Senior Superintendent Benjardi Mantele, city police chief, said he was glad he found his man and now has accounted for PO1 Vladimir Binayug, 28, of 104 Magsaysay street, Caloocan City, last assigned on "floating" status at the Caloocan City Police Station Investigation and Intelligence Division (SIID) for being trigger-happy.

Binayug, together with Alberto Perito and an unidentified companion, was also charged with frustrated murder for gunning down Rosendo Bellaza, 24, a janitor and companion of Felix Largado, 47, whom Binayug allegedly shot and killed in salvage fashion, last Sept. 2, 2003. Belleza said he was shot by Binayug in the head, shoved him into a ravine and left him for dead.

Belleza rushed to the police station after being informed Binayug was arrested for firing his gun indiscriminately.

In a confrontation at the police station, Belleza, tearfully remembering that morning he cheated death, positively identified Binayug as his and Largado’s assailant.

Binayug for his part, glared down on Belleza denying his claims and saying "Hindi kita kilala!" repeatedly at Belleza. Binayug was taken to Caloocan City police headquarters in his Toyota sedan (WGB-431), allegedly the same vehicle Belleza and Largado were shoved into, robbed and brought by the suspects to the killing field in Tala, Caloocan City in September. – Jerry Botial, Pete Laude