A police officer who had been charged with firing his handgun during a confrontation with another customer in a bar in Quezon City last November was dismissed from the service, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Acorda said Monday.

In a press briefing held at Camp Crame, Acorda said he already signed Lt. Col. Mark Julio Abong’s dismissal order last 18 December concerning a hit-and-run case in August 2022.

“As of this date, I already signed the dismissal order,” Acorda told reporters in a press briefing held at Camp Crame.

“It his right to appeal but based on the provisions of existing policies the decision is executory, meaning while he may render his appeal or submit his appeal, the decision should stand. Since he is dismissed from the service he is not entitled to benefits,” Acorda stressed.

Abong was an active member of the PNP under the Legal Service department who was arrested in November last year for firing his gun outside a Quezon City bar.

Abong grabbed a waiter by his necktie and argued with a customer outside the establishment in Barangay Laging Handa, according to the police report.

The establishment’s manager said Abong fired his handgun twice outside.

The Quezon City Police District said Abong was slapped with charges of illegal discharge of firearms, alarm and scandal, and violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act in relation to the Omnibus Election code, as well as physical injury and slander by deed.

The QCPD filed the formal complaints before the city’s prosecutor’s office shortly after Abong was arrested.

Last November, the Department of the Interior and Local Government junked the appeal of Abong who has been ordered dismissed by the Quezon City People’s Law Enforcement Board for his involvement in a hit-and-run case.

In a 10-page decision, the DILG denied for lack of merit the appeal filed by Lt. Col. Mark Julio Abong for his dismissal due to 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.

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.”