The Manila Times

QC police official sacked for hit-and-run

BY ARLIE O. CALALO

AFORMER head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has been dismissed from the service while three other police officers, including a colonel, have been suspended for six months in connection with the death of a tricycle driver during a hit-andrun incident last year.

In a 19-page decision, the Peo- Quezon City (PLEB-QC) removed ple’s Law Enforcement Board of LtCol. Mark Julio Abong from the service and meted a six-month suspension on Col. Alexander Barredo, Cpl. Joan Vicente, and SMS Jose Soriano.

Nine other lawmen were exonerated, according to PLEBQC executive officer, lawyer Rafael Calinisan.

Calinisan said the case was decided by the Board’s Fourth 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 the sisters of Joel Laroa, who died in a hit-and-run incident along Anonas Street on Aug. 6, 2022.

Based on the complaint filed on Aug. 16, 2022, the victim’s sisters — Arlene Laroa Buenvenida, Annale Laroa Alba and Armida Laroa Carbonel — claimed that Abong, aboard his black Ford Ranger pick-up with plate number NCG-8456, hit their brother and fled from the scene of the accident with the help of fellow police officers.

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

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

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

However, upon learning that it was Abong, they allowed the latter to escape.

In his investigation report, Soriano indicated that an “unknown driver” was behind the incident. He eventually replaced it with the name of a certain Ronald Centino upon the instructions of Mario Abong 2nd, the brother and lawyer of Abong.

Informed about the decision, Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte commended the PLEB for disposing of the case without fear or favor.

“We conduct impartial and thorough investigations in any case. There are those who are found guilty, but there are also those who are acquitted or exonerated,” Calinisan told

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2023-03-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/281754158578298

The Manila Times