QCPD logo. Image from QCPD website
MANILA, Philippines — Police officers being tagged in the alleged cover-up of a hit-and-run incident that killed a tricycle driver in Quezon City have been relieved from their duties.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said Friday that aside from criminal complaints lodged against Lt. Col. Mark Julio Abong, the family of victim Joel Larosa also accused him and three other police officers of trying to whitewash the case by pinning the blame on a certain Ronald Centino.
Abong is being faulted for the death of Larosa and the injury of the tricycle driver’s passenger in a hit-and-run case near Anonas Street.
READ: Owner of pick-up truck in QC hit-and-run case faces homicide raps
In a statement, the QCPD named the relieved police officers who supposedly aided Abong as Col. Alexander Barredo, Cpl. Joan Vicente, and SMSgt. Jose Soriano. It said the three have been reassigned to the District Personnel Holding and Accounting Section while an investigation is ongoing.
The QCPD asserted that upon receiving information on the alleged conduct of the police officers, it “immediately took actions to address the matter by thoroughly investigating and ascertaining the truthfulness thereof.”
“Should it be proven that the said personnel are liable for the allegation, the QCPD will initiate appropriate administrative charges against them and will ensure that justice will be served to the family of the victims,” it further noted.
Newly installed QCPD Director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III also reiterated that the police force will cooperate with the investigation before the People’s Law Enforcement Board-Quezon City “to ensure that there will be no concealment of the facts and circumstances relative to the incident.”
READ: QCPD cop tagged in hit-and-run relieved from post