‘Sexualized hazing’ at PNPA prompts probe; chief sacked

The head of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) was relieved of his post over an alleged hazing incident where three upperclassmen ordered two younger cadets to perform oral sex on each other as punishment.

Eduardo Año, officer in charge of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), announced the relief of the PNPA director, Chief Supt. Joseph Adnol, citing command responsibility and the need to have him out of the way in the conduct of an impartial investigation.

The senior cadets tagged in the Oct. 6 incident have been placed in isolation, DILG spokesperson Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya, in a statement on Wednesday.

“We should not allow this so-called tradition or culture of violence to continue within the hallowed halls of the PNPA.  It is contrary to the ideals of PNPA as the premier institution that produces the future police, fire and jail officers in our country,” Año stressed.

Antihazing law

The Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), which includes the PNPA among its constitutive units, will lead the probe, while the Philippine National Police will conduct a parallel inquiry.

Criminal complaints for violation of the antihazing law are expected to be filed by the two plebes, who were allegedly made to perform the sexual act in front of upperclassmen.

‘Tradition’

Meanwhile, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the senior cadets would likely face administrative sanctions, which could lead to their dismissal from the academy in Silang, Cavite.

In March, the academy was also rocked by controversy when six fresh graduates took a beating from around 40 PNPA cadets, supposedly as part of a the school’s send-off “tradition.”

The incident prompted the PNP to ask the DILG to turn over the management of the academy from the PPSC to the PNP itself.

In May 15, 2000, PNPA cadet Dominante Tunac, 25, died from injuries he allegedly suffered in a hazing session. An autopsy by the National Bureau of Investigation stated the cause of death as respiratory distress syndrome, a breathing disorder, but also noted contusions on the victim’s kidney and left arm, hematoma on his back and blood clot on his toes. —Jaymee T. Gamil and Inquirer Research