Quezon City PLEB sacks cop in hit-and-run case

MANILA, Philippines — The People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) of the Quezon City government has dismissed from the service the former chief of the city police’s Crime Investigation and Detection Unit for the death of a tricycle driver during a hit-and-run accident last year.

In a 19-page decision, the PLEB sacked Lt. Col. Mark Julio Abong and meted a 60-day suspension on Col. Alexander Barredo, Cpl. Joan Vicente and Senior M/Sgt. Jose Soriano.

The PLEB cleared nine other members of the Quezon City Police District of any liability.

The case was decided by the PLEB Fourth Division composed of its chairman, Rafael Vicente Calinisan, Councilor Ma. Aurora Suntay, Barangay chairman Tonito Calma, lawyer Colleen Calleja and citizen representative Ronnie Liang.

The decision stemmed from the complaint filed by the sisters of Joel Laroa, the tricycle driver who died in a hit-and-run incident along Anonas street on Aug. 6, 2022.

Police records showed that Abong was driving his black Ford Ranger with license plate NCG-8456 when he hit the victim.

Abong fled the scene with the help of some fellow police officers following the accident.

Barredo and Vicente were accused of allowing Abong to escape and failing to help Laroa, who bled to death for one hour.

Soriano, the traffic investigator assigned to the case, allegedly helped Abong cover up the incident.

In the videos presented to the PLEB during the hearings, Barredo and Vicente were identified as the police officers who attempted to apprehend the driver of the vehicle that hit the victim.

However, upon learning that it was Abong driving the vehicle, they allowed the police official to escape.

In his investigation report, Soriano indicated that an “unknown driver” was behind the incident, but replaced it with the name of Ronald Centino, supposedly upon the instructions of lawyer Mario Abong II, the brother and legal counsel of Abong.

In a statement, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte commended the PLEB for disposing of the case “without fear or favor.”

Belmonte also thanked Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. for his assistance in the PLEB probe.