PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. yesterday reiterated the police force will never tolerate the wrongdoing of any policeman.
Azurin issued the statement after the Quezon City People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) dismissed from the service a Quezon City Police District police officer over the death of a tricycle driver in a hit-and-run incident last year.
“The PNP stands to its principle that it will never tolerate any misdoings among its ranks if committed blatantly in disregard of the law,” said Azurin.
Lt. Col. Mark Julio Abong, erstwhile chief of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, was ordered dismissed by the PLEB based on the administrative complaint filed by the three sisters of the victim, tricycle driver Joel Larao.
Larao died after being hit by Abong’s Ford Ranger pick-up truck on Anonas St. in Quezon City August 6 last year.
Abong claimed his vehicle was being driven at that time by Ronaldo Centino, who was responsible for the maintenance of his vehicle, without his consent. Centino was named the co-accused of Abong in the criminal cases filed against him.
In their complaint, the sisters of Larao (Arlene, Annale and Armida) claimed that Abong, who was reportedly drunk, was the one driving his vehicle when the mishap took place.
The QC-PLEB found merit in the complaint filed by Larao’s sisters and ordered the dismissal of Abong.
The QC government initially said the board also ordered a 60-day suspension on three other QCPD personnel — Lt. Col. Alexander Barredo, former chief of QCPD Station 3; Cpl. Joan Vicente (for allowing Abong to escape) and Senior Master Sergeant Jose Soriano (for railroading the probe).
It later clarified the suspension issued by PLEB on the three was for six months.
“The PNP respects the decision of the People’s Law Enforcement Board dismissing Lt. Col. Mark Julio Abong from police service and suspending three other PNP personnel,” said Azurin.
Azurin noted that the PNP has been actively implementing an internal cleansing program “to continuously cleanse its ranks of misfits.
“We support the ongoing proceedings in relation to this case and will respect whatever decision the appropriate disciplinary body will come up with until it reaches finality while also affording due process to those involved,” said Azurin.
