Cop in QC firing incident dismissed

The police officer who had been charged with firing his handgun during a confrontation with another customer in a bar in Quezon City has been dismissed.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Wednesday affirmed the Quezon City People's Law Enforcement Board ruling concerning his dismissal.

The DILG issued a decision denying the appeal filed accused Lt. Col. Mark Julio U. Abong in relation to his involvement in the hit-and-run and drunk driving incident on 6 August 2022 along Anonas Street, Quezon City that killed tricycle driver Joel Larosa and injured a passenger.

Based on the 10-page decision posted by DILG on social media page, Abong's second appeal "for lack of merit" on his 2022 hit-and-run case upheld the 24 August decision and 22 September resolution of the National Police Commission-Regional Appellate Board.

The RAB decision came after it denied Abong's first plea and affirmed the same ruling made by the Quezon City People's Law Enforcement Board on the hit-and-run case. The ruling was released in March this year.

In March, the PLEB ordered Abong's dismissal from the service after he was found guilty of multiple charges stemming from a hit-and-run case in August 2022 that killed a tricycle driver and injured his passenger.

The PLEB said Abong was found guilty "for the grave offenses of misconduct, grave neglect of duty, and conduct of unbecoming a police officer with aggravating circumstances of employment of fraudulent means to conceal an offense."

Grave offense

"We affirm the assailed decision dated 24 August 2023 and Resolution dated 22 September 2023 of the Napolcom Regional Appellate Board National Capital Region First Division finding Abong guilty of three administrative charges classified as grave offense warranting a penalty of dismissal from service in the Philippine National Police," Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.  said in a statement

"We find that his appeal is bereft of merit. The evidence points out to his guilt for grave misconduct, grave neglect of duty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer when he concealed his culpability in the said hit-and-run incident," he added.

The DILG chief also said that Abong maliciously falsified evidence to put the blame on his driver Ronald Centino however, substantial and circumstantial evidence is sufficient to refute Abong's alibi and defense of mistaken identity.

"This includes his admission to the PNP Health Services for treatment of his injuries immediately after the accident and where he was found by attending medical staff to be intoxicated," Abalos said.

"Abong has been given due process and his exhaustion of administrative remedies stops here. He can no longer delay his dismissal from service as recommended by the Quezon City People's Law Enforcement Board Fourth Division in its Decision dated 21 March 2023. Ubos na ang baraha niya at hindi na niya mapapaikot pa ang batas," he stressed.

Abalos has ordered the dismissal of Abong, a police officer who was arrested after firing his gun outside a Quezon City bar, calling him a "disgrace to his uniform."