General’s son tagged in PNPA sex scandal

MANILA, Philippines — One of the three cadets who allegedly forced two freshmen to perform oral sex as a form of punishment is the son of a general from the Philippine National Police (PNP), an official said yesterday.

Ricardo de Leon, president of the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), refused to name the general, who is reportedly on active duty, pending results of the investigation.

De Leon said the father of one of the victims is a ranking official of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

The PPSC, which has supervision over the PNP Academy, has formed a fact-finding body to probe the complaint of the freshmen that an upperclassman allegedly forced them to perform oral sex as a form of punishment.

De Leon said the body would look into the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine what reforms are needed to prevent a similar case from happening again.

“The purpose of the fact-finding committee is to determine what are the other practices that should be addressed,” he said.

Chief Superintendent Ramon Rafael of the National Police Training Institute heads the five-man team. Three police officials, including Superintendent Basman Macarangal, and a guidance counselor from the PNP serve as members.

De Leon said the investigating team has until the end of the month to submit an initial report.

He said the cadets would be dismissed if they are proven guilty of committing such abusive behavior, which is a violation of the Anti-Hazing Law.

The incident took place at the barracks of the PNPA campus in Silang, Cavite on Oct. 6.

Reports said a senior cadet ordered two plebes to perform oral sex as punishment for unspecified infractions.

The other two cadets could also be dismissed from the service for not stopping the sexual abuse and for not reporting it to the authorities.

De Leon expressed frustration that the incident happened despite the reforms they have put in place at the PNPA.

He welcomed the appointment of Chief Superintendent Jose Chiquito Malayo as the next PNPA director, replacing Chief Superintendent Joseph Adnol.

Adnol was sacked from his post by Interior and Local Government oficer-in-charge Eduarno Año for command responsibility.

“I welcome the appointment of Malayo. He is known to be strict,” De Leon said.

It was also during Adnol’s watch that nine cadets were beaten by six upperclassmen after their graduation rites in March.