PNP to probe alleged hazing of Isabela cop

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is looking into the alleged hazing incident involving a patrolman in Isabela province who claimed to have been mauled by three other personnel last May 24, according to its spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo.

Fajardo said on Monday that the PNP-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) will probe the circumstances surrounding 26-year-old Patrolman Jeremy Matthew Padilla, who is designated at the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 2 in Barangay Macalauat, Angadanan.

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“According to them (RMFB), wala naman pong naganap na hazing. Nag-execute po ng affidavit ‘yung mga kaklase po niya na ongoing ‘yung immediate action drill or IAD, parte ng kanilang training,” the PNP official

(RMFB denied the allegations, saying that there was no hazing, and the classmates of Padilla executed an affidavit stating that they were conducting an ongoing IAD as part of their training there.)

“Just the same, meron po tayong iniimbestigahan na pangalan ng tatlo na binigay ng mismong si patrolman Padilla. Iniimbistigahan na po ito ng IMEG,” she added.

(We are investigating the three names given by patrolman Padilla. IMEG is investigating this.)

Police reports said that the three other police personnel reportedly punched Padilla in various parts of his body and hit him with a wooden paddle.

Isabela Provincial Police Office likewise revealed that one of the personnel reportedly wrapped Padilla’s body with a raincoat and covered his face with wet clothes.

“The medical examination conducted at Cauayan City District Hospital revealed that the victim suffered multiple physical injuries secondary to mauling, including a hematoma in the right upper quadrant of his abdomen, hematomas on the anterior and posterior aspects of his right thigh, a hematoma on his left forearm and abrasions on both his right and left knees,” the report said.