MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed to dismiss the cadets involved in the alleged hazing at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) should an internal investigation confirm their liability to the crime.
Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, PNP officer-in-charge, said PNPA has restricted within the academy the involved cadets and that their superiors, including squad and platoon leaders, were stripped of their authority to oversee and supervise the plebes or freshmen.
“We will get to the bottom of this, and because may nangyaring ganun (this happened) and [if] indeed this is maltreatment, we will see to it that these cadets who are involved will be dismissed from PNPA,” he said in a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City on Monday.
Gamboa was referring to the hospitalization of Cadet 4th Class John Desiderio on October 29 after the latter complained of stomach pains. PNPA said it is looking at all angles in its investigation but admitted that the hospitalization might be a possible case of maltreatment.
READ: PNPA looking at possible case of hazing on hospitalized cadet
This happened just over a month after PNP formally took over the jurisdiction of PNPA from the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), and nearly two months since the death of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio due to hazing allegedly by his upperclassmen at the Philippine Military Academy.
READ: PNP to address hazing at PNPA as it takes over institution
Amid this fresh case, Gamboa asked the public to give PNP a chance to reform the institution. He said the academy’s transition from PPSC to PNP is still ongoing, and that the alleged hazing of Desiderio is an isolated case.
“But nevertheless, we do not escape from that responsibility, so kung bad start man tayo (if we had a bad start) then let it start that way, and we will do our best na hindi na ito mangyari ulit (for this not to happen again),” he said. /kga