Man charged for attempt on cop's life

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has filed an attempted murder case against a man who allegedly tried to kill a policeman.

Maximo Tayong of barangay Tungkil, Minglanilla is accused of trying to kill 54-year-old SPO3 Jesus Cotelo of the Police Regional Office IX, Camp Col. Abendan Mercedez, Zamboanga City.

Prosecutor I Petronio Elesterio found probable cause to hold him for trial.

Cotelo said in his affidavit that around 8:00 in the evening of September 23, 2010, he went out of his house at Deca Homes Subdivision in Minglanilla to get his motorcycle parked outside.

While dragging the motorcycle towards the gate, Tayong, who is his neighbor and allegedly held a grudge against him, shot him with a .38 caliber.

Cotelo added that Tayong’s gun misfired.

The suspect then punched him several times and hit his head with the gun. He lost his balance and fell half conscious on the ground.

But Tayong was hit by Cotelo’s motorcycle and was also in pain.

Cotelo further said that he crawled to his house while the suspect stood up and ran towards the interior portion of their subdivision.

Tayong denied the accusation. He said Cotelo’s case against him is a leverage case as he had filed several cases against the policeman before the National Police Commission for grave misconduct.

Tayong added that he also filed an estafa case against the policeman before the Office of the City Prosecutor and for grave threats and trespass to dwelling.

But Prosecutor Elesterio, in a resolution, stated that the theory of leverage is “not a controverting evidence in light of the positive assertion Cotelo.”

The investigating prosecutor found sufficient basis to indict Tayong, saying the attempt to shoot and kill Cotelo “was treacherous as it was sudden and unexpectedly done at the precise moment when Cotelo could not defend himself from the assault.” —(FREEMAN)