4 ex-Quezon cops convicted of attempted murder

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Four former policemen have been sentenced to five to 10 years in prison in connection with the kidnapping and slay attempt on a pedicab driver in Atimonan, Quezon in November 2018.

Former Agdangan town policemen Wilson Villegas, Noel Malabayabas, Bryan Novo and Jhaymar Espedido were found guilty of attempted murder, Gumaca Regional Trial Court Branch 172 Judge Michael Vito said in his decision during videoconferencing proceedings on Tuesday.

The former policemen were originally charged with frustrated murder.

Court records show that the four seized Roger Herrero in Agdangan and brought him to Atimonan, where he was forced to admit several robbery cases.

One of the policemen reportedly shot Herrero in the face and left him for dead by the roadside.

Bystanders who found the victim brought him to a hospital for treatment.

Herrero filed the case against the former policemen after the robbery charges filed against him were dismissed.