Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30) — Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Thursday ordered the immediate dismissal of the Quezon City police officer who allegedly fired his gun unprovoked outside a bar, and who was also implicated in a fatal hit-and-run incident.
Abalos directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to sack PLt. Col. Mark Julio Abong after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) denied the latter’s appeal, particularly over his hit-and-run and drunk driving case.
This came just days after Abong — a former chief of the Quezon City Police District’s (QCPD) Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit — was arrested over the gun-firing incident. He was released from detention on Thursday afternoon after posting bail.
In August of last year, the officer was also involved in a hit-and-run that killed a tricycle driver and injured a passenger. He was later relieved from his post and was reassigned.
“He is a disgrace to his uniform and the police organization as he continues his rogue acts,” said the Interior secretary.
The DILG — which said Abong’s appeal was “bereft of merit\” — affirmed the September decision of the National Police Commission that found him guilty of three administrative charges.
It said Abong is guilty of grave misconduct, grave neglect of duty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer when he “maliciously falsified evidence to put the blame on his driver.” These charges, the department noted, warrant a penalty of dismissal from the police force.
“Abong has been given due process and his exhaustion of administrative remedies stops here. He can no longer delay his dismissal from service,” Abalos said.
