2 dead, 2 hurt as cop goes into rampage

CALAMBA CITY — A rookie Manila policeman, apparently insulted by doubts on whether he was a real cop, went into a shooting rampage during a birthday party here Friday night, killing two guests and critically wounding two others, including a fellow lawman.

Probers said PO1 Jonathan Baugh, assigned with the Western Police District’s Station 3 at Central Market in Sta. Cruz, Manila, was waving his WPD identification card as he fired shots at a group of guests he had been drinking with.

Laborer Rodel Dumalaog, 43, and tricycle driver Fernando Bagnes, 37, both residents of Barangay Canlubang, died while being rushed to the San Jose Hospital. Both had multiple gunshot wounds.

In critical condition were SPO4 Nicolas Maaño, a Las Piñas policeman, and tricycle driver Reynaldo Paquinto, 40.

Calamba policemen are now coordinating with the WPD for the arrest of Baugh, who escaped after the incident.

Investigation showed that Baugh was a guest in the birthday of a son of one Randy Villeja in Purok 2, Sitio Asia Palua in Canlubang.

Since the Villejas’ house could not accommodate the big number of guests, Baugh and other visitors stayed at an alley opposite the house and there engaged in a drinking spree.

Witnesses said Baugh and Maaño, who were seated beside each other, had a verbal tussle over the former’s rank — Police Officer 1 (PO1).

Maaño, the witnesses said, apparently doubted whether Baugh was, indeed, a policeman since his rank was inappropriate for his age.

The heated argument prompted Baugh to go to his car — a Nissan Sentra — and take his WPD ID card and 9-mm pistol. He was waving his ID card as he approached his drinking companions.

"Pulis ako, pulis ako (I’m a cop, I’m a cop)," he was quoted as saying before he shot Maaño and the rest of the group.

Reports said Maaño, who was shot thrice, ran toward his house nearby reportedly to get his M-16 rifle but he collapsed before reaching the doorstep.

Paquinto reportedly sought refuge in a neighbor’s house as Baugh continued firing.

After the carnage, Baugh hastily fled aboard his car, leaving behind his WPD ID card. Police found 12 9-mm spent shells and two slugs at the scene.

Meanwhile, an electrical firm in San Pedro town, also in Laguna, lost P380,000 in payroll to four motorcycle-riding men before dusk the other day, police said.

SPO4 Ric Alumno said Domilyn Condes, 29, an accounting officer of Total Power Box Inc., which manufactures electrical boxes, had just withdrawn the money from the bank when the robbers, aboard two motorcycles, blocked their path along Fadre Masi street in Barangay San Antonio.

Condes and fellow employee Rigel Pagcu, 31, were riding in a company vehicle.

The robbers took the duffel bag containing the money. Before fleeing, they fired shots at Condes and Pagcu but missed.— With Jaime Laude