MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has filed before the city prosecutor’s office formal criminal complaints against Lt. Col.Mark Julio Abong, a police officer who reportedly fired a gun outside a bar in Barangay Laging Handa.
The QCPD said Abong is facing a formal complaint for illegal discharge of firearms, alarm and scandal, and violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act in relation to the Omnibus Election code, as well as physical injury and slander by deed.
“Naifile na natin kahapon ang ibat-ibang kaso laban kay Lt. Col. Abong before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. Si Abong ay pansamantalang nakakulong ngayon sa CIDU (Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit),” QCPD chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said in a statement on Monday.
(We already filed various charges against Lt. Col. Abong yesterday before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. Abong is currently under CIDU’s custody.)
Based on a police report, Abong was collared by Kamuning Police Station operatives in front of a bar along Scout Rallos corner Scout Tobias Street in Barangay Laging Handa at around 1 a.m. on Sunday.
Before his arrest, police said Abong entered the bar and allegedly asked one of the waiters, Joseph Mendoza Matugina, to see the manager, Lyn Rivera Pineda.
Minutes into their conversation, the suspect got furious and assaulted Matugina before going outside.
Pineda, who filed the complaint against the officer, said that Abong also argued with one of the customers outside the bar, prompting him to fire his gun twice allegedly.
The complainant sought the assistance of operatives from the Kamuning Police Station, who immediately responded and arrested Abong.