Cop kills guard, cabbie in drunken fit

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman, who tried to flee after allegedly killing a security guard during a drunken fit, reportedly shot a taxi driver he had forced to drive for him at past midnight yesterday.

Police officers on patrol arrested  Police Officer 1 Joseph Kimayong, assigned with the Special Action Force, when they found him in the taxi with driver Angelito Bernabe Jr.’s body lying on his lap.

Bernabe had been shot in the head.

The police officers had checked on the taxi, which had stalled at an intersection along Quezon Avenue, said Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Richard Albano.

Before this, Kimayong allegedly shot and killed security guard Danio Landasan at past 1 a.m. in a building along East Avenue where the victim was on duty.

Witness Alver Panoga, who was also in the building, told police Kimayong talked to Landasan before the attack. The two men entered the building and Panoga heard shots. He then saw the policeman coming out with a gun, said Inspector Elmer Monsalve.

“It was not clear why he shot the victim but the policeman was drunk,” Monsalve said.

The guard died from a gunshot wound in the head from a .45 caliber pistol, apparently the suspect’s personal firearm, Monsalve said.

Investigators said Kimayong then tried but failed to hail a cab. He boarded a bus bound for Philcoa and got off when the bus reached BIR Road. He then boarded the cab driven by Bernabe.

A commotion apparently ensued inside the cab, in the middle of which Kimayong allegedly shot Bernabe, Monsalve said.

He said the suspect will be charged with two counts of murder.