QCPD probes photos of cop in hit-and-run

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) is looking into reports that Lt. Col. Mark Julio Abong was in a hospital for treatment of his injuries, minutes after his vehicle figured in a hit-and-run accident that killed a tricycle driver.

QCPD director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said yesterday they know of the photographs that surfaced on social media platform Facebook that showed Abong being treated for a laceration on his right wrist.

“I am aware of the photos,” he said in an interview.

Torre said their investigators are looking at the photographs as part of the probe of the accident in Barangay Quirino 2-A on Aug. 6 that killed tricycle driver Joel Laroa.

“Tinitingnan namin lahat ng mga anggulo at mga possibilities diyan (We are looking at all the angles and possibilities),” he said.

Abong earlier claimed that the caretaker of his Ford Ranger, a certain Ronald Centino, was the one who drove the pickup truck when it hit Laroa’s tricycle at the corner of Anonas and Pajo streets at around 5 a.m.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said Abong received treatment at the Philippine National Police General Hospital at Camp Crame at around 5:20 a.m., 20 minutes after the his vehicle got involved in the accident.

According to the source, Abong was brought to the hospital from the QCPD headquarters at Camp Karingal.

Abong has since been relieved as officer-in-charge of the QCPD criminal investigation and detection unit.

The Quezon City People’s Law Enforcement Board has suspended Abong and three other police officers for 90 days in response to allegations from Laroa’s family of an alleged cover-up of the accident.

Seventeen more police officers were relieved from their posts for their alleged negligence in the mishap.