5 Quezon cops relieved over foiled ‘salvage’

LUCENA CITY — Five policemen in Quezon province have been relieved from their posts over their alleged involvement in an attempt to kill a pedicab driver from Agdangan town early this month, the province’s top police official said on Tuesday.

Senior Supt. Osmundo de Guzman, Quezon police director, relieved Insp. Wilson Mansion, Agdangan police chief, and his men — SPO4 Wilson Villegas, SPO3 Noel Malabayabas, SPO2 Bryan Nobo and PO2 Jaymhar Espidido — effective Monday.

De Guzman assured that the provincial police would be fair in handling the case as it intensified its internal cleansing.

The five policemen were accused by Roger Herrero Jr. of shooting and trying to kill him on Nov. 1 at Barangay Lakip in Atimonan town. He said the policemen were forcing him to admit to a series of robberies in Agdangan.

The bullet pierced Herrero’s head and shattered his jaw. He said he played dead until the policemen left. –Delfin T. Mallari Jr.