CHARGED. The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has filed charges against Lt. Col. Mark Julio Abong who allegedly fired his handgun during a confrontation with another customer in a restobar. Abong was charged of violation of Republic Act no. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, violation of Omnibus Election Code, physical injury, slander by deed, and disobedience upon an agent or person in authority. (Photo courtesy of QCPD)
MANILA – The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has filed charges against a police official who allegedly fired his handgun during a confrontation with another customer in a restobar.
In a statement on Monday, QCPD Director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said that violation of Republic Act no. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, violation of Omnibus Election Code, physical injury, slander by deed, and disobedience upon an agent or person in authority were filed against Lt. Col. Mark Julio Abong before Quezon City Prosecutor office on Sunday.
“Naifile na natin kahapon ang ibat-ibang kaso laban kay (We already filed various cases against) Lt. Col. Abong before the Quezon City Prosecutors Office wherein Assistant City Prosecutor Claudette Michelle Saquing, the duty Inquest Prosecutor, evaluated the pieces of evidence presented. Abong is currently detained at CIDU (Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit),” said Maranan
Abong, who is assigned at the Legal Service of the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, grabbed a waiter by his necktie and then argued with a customer outside the establishment, according to the police report.
The restobar’s manager said Abong fired his handgun twice outside.
Policemen who arrived at the scene took Abong into custody and brought him to the QCPD-CIDU. Confiscated from the suspect were one Glock 40 pistol with serial number AAMA005, one magazine loaded with nine .40 calibre live ammunition, and two empty .40 calibre cartridges.
“We assure the public that the QCPD will thoroughly implement the law regardless kung sino po ang (of who is) involved as it will not tolerate misdeeds in the PNP," Maranan said.
For his part, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said they do not tolerate the actions of abusive police personnel.
“Abong’s unwanted actuation smacks of abuse of power and authority by a man in uniform, and I will not tolerate that. I have also ordered a comprehensive background check on his current status at the PNP so that appropriate actions could be taken,” Abalos added.
Abong, a former chief of the QCPD-CIDU, was relieved in August 2022 following his involvement in a hit-and-run casePakig that resulted in the killing of a tricycle driver while his passenger was injured.
In March 2023, he was dismissed by the city’s People's Law Enforcement Board after he was found guilty of multiple charges of grave misconduct, grave neglect of duty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer with the aggravating circumstance of employment of fraudulent means to conceal an offense. (PNA)
