The Quezon City Police District on Tuesday relieved P/Lt. Col. Mark Julio Abong as chief of its criminal investigation and detection unit over a hit-and-run incident that killed a tricycle driver and injured his passenger on 6 July.
Abong was tagged as the owner of a sports utility vehicle that rammed the tricycle of 53-year-old Joel Laroa at the corner of Anonas and Pajo Streets in Barangay Quirino 2A.
“The QCPD is continuously conducting an in-depth investigation on the incident and has filed a case for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, physical injury, and damage to property against (Ronald) Centino and Abong,” district chief P/Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre said.
Centino, a mechanic, was alleged by Abong to be behind the wheel of his SUV when it rammed the tricycle that led to the death of Laroa.
Laroa’s wife said he could have survived the accident if the occupants of the SUV and the cops from a patrol car immediately brought him to a hospital.
As seen from closed-circuit TV videos, the SUV was moving behind the patrol car when the mishap.
Abong claimed Centino drove his SUV without his knowledge. The injured tricycle passenger was identified as 27-year-old Rozelle Morales.
From the QCPD CIDU, Abong was reassigned to the district personnel holding and accounting section while the charges against him are being prepared for trial.