The Quezon City government said on Wednesday, Aug. 17, that the sisters of Joel Laroa, the tricycle driver who died in a road accident in the city last Aug. 6, have filed charges against the police officer who owns the pick-up truck involved in the incident.
Laroa’s sisters - Arlene Laroa Buenvenida, 51; Annale Laroa Alba, 44; and Armida Laroa Carbonel, 49, filed charges for grave misconduct, grave neglect of duty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer against Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) Chief Lt. Col. Julio Abong. The cases were filed before the QC People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) on Aug. 16.
The QCPD had earlier relieved Abong from his post and transferred him to the District Personnel Holding and Accounting Section (DPHAS) while investigation on the incident is ongoing.
According to the QCPD report, the incident happened at around 5 a.m. on Aug. 6, at the corner of Anonas Road and Pajo Street, in Brgy. Quirino 2A. Abong’s black Ford Ranger vehicle bumped the tricycle being driven by the 53-year-old victim who was a resident of Krus na Ligas, in the city.
Laroa died while his passenger, Rozelle Morales, 27, from Antipolo City, sustained injuries and was rushed to the hospital for medical treatment.
Abong denied responsibility for the incident and claimed that a certaine Ronald Centino drove his car without his consent.
According to the complaint filed by Laroa’s sisters, the police officer was the one driving the vehicle that hit their brother and fled.
The local government said the complainants also accused Abong and other policemen of trying to cover-up the incident and pinning the blame on a “fall guy.”
The same charges were also filed by the complainants against QCPD Talipapa Station (PS 3) chief Lt. Col. Alexander Barredo; Cpl. Joan Vicente; and responding officers from the PS 3 and Anonas Station (PS 9).
The city government said that a cellphone video footage showed that Barredo, Vicente, and another policemen were standing beside Abong’s vehicle, but no arrests were made.
It added that the victim’s sisters also received reports that the vehicle made its way back to the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal, followed by Barredo, Vicente, and the responding policemen from PS 3 and 9.
The Laroa sisters also filed charges for grave misconduct against the traffic investigator, Senior Master/Sgt. Jose Soriano, for his direct participation in the alleged cover-up.
They said Soriano did not identify Abong as the driver of the vehicle. Instead, he initially mentioned in his report that the driver was “unknown” and then subsequently identified Centino as the driver of the vehicle.
They also claimed that the traffic investigator even made them sign the case/criminal complaint clearing Abong from the blame and shifting the liability to Centino.
“We will investigate this case thoroughly, without fear or favor. We promise a swift and impartial investigation and disposition of this case. We will not be afraid to impose the proper penalty, and dismiss all erring cops, should it be necessary,” PLEB Executive Officer lawyer Rafael Calinisan said.
“We pledge a safe and peaceful community here in Quezon City. There is no room of for erring cops here. We have put systems in place, and I am confident that after a thorough investigaton, truth will prevail. I will not allow a mockery of this probe,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
The local government said the QCPD also resolved to endorse the case to the PLEB to allay concerns about any possible cover-up.
“Under my watch, we will never tolerate any wrongdoing from our personnel. We have relieved from his post P/Lt. Col Abong from the CIDU. We will cooperate with the investigation of the PLEB. In fact, we will forward and endorse the results of our investigation to them, to ensure that there will be no whitewash here,” QCPD Director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said.
Read more: QCPD relieves police officer involved in hit-and-run