BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Western Visayas has imposed a 90-day preventive suspension on two police officials and six non-commissioned police officers facing a complaint for the maltreatment of 51 policemen and women who underwent the special counter-insurgency course training in Camp Aniceto Lacson in Victorias City.

In Special Order 1869, dated December 1, Chief Superintendent Isagani Cuevas, the PNP Region 6 director, ordered the suspension of police inspectors Stephen Somosot and Dianne Grace Aquitania, police officers Mark Hecita, Mark Garde, Rizal Homena, Oliver Salazar, Jean Hiponia and Marife Cantomayor. The suspension order took effect the same day.

The eight who served as instructors and trainers of the 6th Regional Mobile Group for a police training being held in Victorias City, were charged with oppression, grave misconduct and neglect of duty before the Police Regional Office (PRO-6), the Bombo Radyo reported Tuesday night.

The victims of the alleged hazing in the camp claimed that when they committed minor infractions during their training, their instructors and trainers hit their hands and fingers using sticks. They were also hit on the buttocks and thighs with PVC and GI pipes and pieces of wood and bamboo.

A team of police doctors sent by Cuevas to conduct medical examinations on the 242 trainees found that 51 (22 of them women) trainees had bruises on the legs, buttocks and thighs, allegedly inflicted by their instructors and tactical officers.

Cuevas said that after their graduation, the 242 trainees would be assigned to different towns and cities of Western Visayas to maximize the deployment of uniformed policemen during the yuletide season celebration.