70 Bangsamoro cops relieved over alleged hazing

Seventy police officers from Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Administrative Region Mobile Force Battalion 14B (PRO BAR RMFB) were relieved from their posts for conducting hazing during the reception rites for 129 new police officers Sunday noon.

“Tinanggal na ang lahat ng miyembro ng 14B ng Regional Mobile Force Battalion at sila ay pinalitan o hinalilihan ng miyembro ng 14A. So, lahat sila, 70 plus, sila lahat ngayon ay administratively relieved (All members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14B were removed and replaced with members of 14A. So, all of them, 70 plus, were administratively relieved),” Philippine National Police (PNP) information chief and spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said on Monday in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

Tuaño also said that 12 police non-commissioned officers were among the relieved cops, as they were positively identified by the complainants as suspects.

The complaint was initially lodged by only one of the recruits. Later, 18 more of his classmates gave their own statements, followed by 110 others, according to Tuaño.

All victims are now undergoing medical evaluation, while investigators are still determining whether more officers were involved in the alleged hazing, the PNP said.

“Ang injury nila ay mga physical. May mga hematoma, pananakit, suntok, sampal at iba pa (Their injuries were physical. There were hematomas, assault, punches, slaps, and others),” Tuaño explained.

The alleged incident took place at the RMFB’s headquarters in Barangay Ubit, Lamitan City, Basilan, last Feb. 5, when the recruits were subjected to “duck-walking, being ordered to lie on the ground, rolling on the ground, and physical assault using wooden sticks and arnis,” according to an initial police report from the PRO BAR.

Tuaño said that the entire RMFB 14B had been placed under the PRO BAR’s holding and accounting section in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte pending investigation, awaiting a case for violation of Republic Act No. 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act.

“Zero tolerance din ang Philippine National Police kaugnay ng mga hazing sa mga training at sa mga welcome rites. Sinasabi ng ating Chief PNP na mananagot, kriminal at administratibo, ang lahat ng mapapatunayan na sangkot (The Philippine National Police also maintains zero tolerance for hazing in training and welcome rites. Our Chief PNP says all those proven to be involved will be held criminally and administratively accountable),” Tuaño said.

Meanwhile, PRO BAR director Brig. Gen. Jaysen de Guzman personally visited the affected recruits in Lamitan City to check on their condition and assured them of a thorough investigation.

He immediately relieved the concerned personnel and placed them under RPRD-RPHAS custody, with RMFB-14A taking over to ensure operational continuity.

“Under the principle of command responsibility, negligent supervisors will face administrative sanctions, and appropriate charges will be filed against those directly involved,” De Guzman said.

He added that PRO BAR assures the public that the matter is being handled seriously, transparently, and with due process.

In a separate statement, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) Bangsamoro said it launched its own investigation to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.

“This action is in line with our mandate to ensure that all police personnel and recruits are treated with dignity and in accordance with the law, established rules, and human rights standards,” Napolcom said.

The Napolcom BARMM assures the public that appropriate actions will be taken based on the results of the investigation, and accountability will be pursued should any violations be established.