‘Dismiss cadets in beating of PNPA graduates’

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Cadets of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) who beat up members of the graduating class on Wednesday last week should be dismissed.

Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil, a member of PNPA Class 1993, made the call yesterday, saying he was saddened over the incident.

The underclassmen reportedly used rattan sticks and rocks in beating up the graduates as they returned to their barracks at Camp General Mariano Castañeda in Silang, Cavite.

“It shows disrespect to their upperclassmen,” Castil said, noting that he only experienced being dunked in the pool by his underclassmen.

“They are…abusive. How much more if they become commissioned officers,” he said.

In a statement, the PNPA Alumni Association Inc. expressed its support to the investigation of the PNPA cadets.

Philippine Public Safety College president Ricardo de Leon directed a seven-man investigating panel led by National Police College head Romeo Magsalos to submit their recommendation not later than April 2.

Meanwhile, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao condemned a supposed hazing of PNPA cadets by their upperclassmen.

Bulalacao was reacting to a video obtained by Rappler showing several PNPA cadets being beaten by their upperclassmen. The incident reportedly occurred sometime last year.

“What is shown on the video is pure and simple maltreatment… and a violation of the Anti-Hazing Law,” he said in a statement. “If this incident is true, the PNP will not tolerate it.”

Bulalacao said initiation rites organized and sanctioned by the PNPA are supervised by medical and tactical officers. He said the use of paddles and sticks are not allowed.

It was not clear if the cadets in the video were involved in the beating of PNPA graduates. – With Emmanuel Tupas