MANILA: The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it would investigate the alleged hazing of police officers in Isabela province.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) would probe the incident involving Pat. Jeremy Matthew Padilla, 26, who was recently assigned at the Regional Mobile Force Batallion in Barangay Macalauat in Angadanan town and three police officers who allegedly mauled him on the night of May 24.
“Kung talagang yung pamilya at alleged victim ay desidido po na mag execute ng affidavit at magsampa ng kaso at tutulungan natin siya. Kung talagang may ebidensya na mako-corroborate doon sa statement ay maaaring maharap sa kasong administratibo hindi lamang criminal case itong sinasabi nyang tatlong pangalan na nanakit sa kanya (If the family of the alleged victim is bent on executive an affidavit and file a case, we would help him. If there is evidence to corroborate his statement, the three police
officers which the victim mentioned would also face administrative and not only crminal cases),” Fajardo said.
Based on a police report, the suspects allegedly punched Padilla in various parts of his body and hit him with a wooden paddle. The victim’s face was also covered with a wet cloth.
Based on his medical report, the victim sustained 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.
He is now in a stable condition and was advised by the doctor to rest for three days.
Fajardo, however, said Padilla’s classmates denied his claims, saying he suddenly ran away while undergoing an immediate action drill aimed at training them to apprehend suspects in mountainous terrains.
“However, yung isa doon ay wala naman doon sa actual na pinangyarihan at off duty po siya. Yung isa naman ay nakaduty naman. S
o ito lamang isa si Cpl. Languido yung present doon at siya mismo ay nagdedeny na meron pong nangyaring hazing doon (one of those named was not at the scene and he was off duty. Another officer is on duty. So we only one, a certain Cpl. Languido who was present and he denied any hazing) but just the same iniimbestigahan na ito ng (this is under investigation by the) IMEG,” she said.
She said the three police officers would face charges of physical injury and violaton of the Anti-Hazing Law, if proven guilty.
Source: Philippines News Agency
