MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) welcomed the decision of Quezon City’s People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) to dismiss Lt. Col. Mark Julio Abong from police service and suspend three other police personnel over the death of a tricycle driver during a hit-and-run incident in August last year.
PNP chief, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., said the PNP stands by its principle to never tolerate any misdoing among its ranks if committed blatantly in disregard of the law.
“As always, the PNP has been actively implementing internal cleansing programs 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,” Azurin said in a statement on Wednesday.
He said the PNP is committed to zero tolerance for abuses committed by any of its members.
The QC PLEB on March 21 released the decision on the hit-and-run incident that occurred along Anonas Road in Quezon City on Aug. 6, 2022, killing tricycle driver Joel Laroa.
In a 19-page decision, the body removed Abong from the service and imposed a six-month suspension on Col. Alexander Barredo, Cpl. Joan Vicente, and Senior M/Sgt. Jose Soriano. Nine other lawmen were exonerated.
According to QC PLEB executive officer and lawyer Rafael Calinisan, the case was decided by the Board's 4th Division whose members were Councilor Ma. Aurora Marra Suntay, barangay chairman Tonito Calma, lawyer Colleen Calleja, citizen representative Ronnie Liang, and himself.
The decision stemmed from the complaint of Laroa's sisters. (PNA)
