9 PNPA cadets in big trouble for mauling upperclassmen

PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa reacts to a question at a press briefing in Camp Crame on Monday, March 26, 2018. A reporter asked about the incident in Philippine National Police Academy where cadets mauled PNPA graduates. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

At least nine cadets of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) are in hot water for allegedly mauling their upperclassmen right after the latter’s graduation ceremonies in Camp Castañeda, Cavite province, on March 21.

In a press conference on Monday at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa confirmed the incident when questioned by the media.

He described what happened as a sort of sendoff “tradition” among police cadets that is not sanctioned by the PNPA management or their alumni and should be stopped.

“That kind of tradition is not good. It, sad to say, promotes a cycle of violence. If that tradition is not stopped — what they call “bawian” (payback) — that might end up happening every year,” Dela Rosa said.

20 cadets suspects

Dela Rosa clarified that the PNPA was not under his office, but that he had spoken to its administration as well as the administration of the Philippine Public Safety College regarding the incident.

In a report on Monday afternoon, the PNPA identified six of the graduates from the PNPA “Maragtas” Class of 2018 as the victims in the incident, and nine out of 20 cadets from the 2019 class as the suspects.

Dela Rosa said the mauling involved hitting the heads of the “severely injured” graduates that led to broken noses and wounds, according to the parents of the victims he talked to, some of whom took videos.

Possible dismissal

The Silang Municipal Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the Camp Castañeda area, said that on March 23, two of the six victims executed complaint-affidavits against the suspects, while the four other victims executed affidavits saying they were not interested in filing a case.

The PNPA said on March 26, it had started an investigation against 20 cadets of class 2019 for possible dismissal.

Dela Rosa has taken up the cudgels for PNPA Director Joseph Adnol, saying the PNPA management took the “problem” seriously and that Adnol had even offered to be relieved.

“My answer was no, you don’t have to resign. It was not your fault. Just do the investigation properly and make sure that that tradition is stopped,” said Dela Rosa, whose son is a cadet at the PNPA, although he was not involved in the incident.