Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief P/Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Tuesday warned police units nationwide against conducting initiation rites and hazing activities that endanger trainees and recruits.

The warning came after the entire Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 14-B in Basilan was relieved over hazing rites.

"This should serve as a warning to other police offices and units not to engage in this kind of activity," PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement.

"The PNP reiterates that hazing, in any form, is strictly prohibited within the organization. Under Republic Act No. 8049, as amended by RA 11053, the Anti-Hazing Law, any act that inflicts physical or psychological harm, injury, or suffering during initiation or welcoming practices is illegal and punishable under Philippine law," Nartatez statement read.

"As an institution, the PNP enforces a zero-tolerance policy against hazing. Personnel found to have participated in, organized, or facilitated hazing activities are subject to administrative sanctions, including dismissal from service, and may also face criminal liability in accordance with the law," Nartatez added.

Nartatez said the PNP does not condone hazing and has launched an investigation into the incident, emphasizing that discipline can be instilled without violence.

"The PNP is a professional organization and all its members must behave as such. There are other ways to instill discipline among the recruits, and beating them up is certainly not one of them," he said.

About 70 RMFB 14-B personnel were relieved after complaints that recruits were physically harmed during alleged welcome rites. Photos and videos of the incident went viral on social media.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño, in a press briefing, said 22 officers are under restrictive custody, while five face criminal charges.

The alleged hazing occurred last week at the RMFB headquarters in Barangay Ubit, Lamitan City, where recruits were reportedly forced to duck-walk, roll on the ground, and were beaten with wooden sticks and arnis.

Tuaño said 12 members of PRO BAR MFB 14-B, including its commander with the rank of Colonel, are facing criminal complaints for the alleged hazing of over 100 recruits in Basilan.

Tuaño said the complaints for physical injury in relation to Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act, were filed before the prosecutor's office.

“Sila yung identified na may direct hand o participation base sa doon sa mga affidavit na nakuha nila at base na rin sa mga medical certificate,” Tuaño explained.

He only identified the former RMFB 14-B commander as a police colonel and the 11 others as a police major, five police corporals, and five patrolmen.

Asked about the role of the force commander, the PNP spokesperson answered, “Base sa imbestigasyon… ito ay hindi lamang dahil sa… command responsibility. Ito ay may pisikal na presence habang nangyayari yung mga nasabing insidente,” the PNP spokesman explained.

“Ang Anti-Hazing Law, hindi lang ito patungkol sa pisikal o personal na pagsali o pag-iinflict ng harm. Kasali ito sa mga nagpaplano. By that alone, by virtue of his position… nasasaklaw na siya sapagkat wala siyang ginawa sa mga ginawa ng kanyang mga tauhan (The Anti-Hazing Law, it’s not only about the physical or personal involvement or inflicting of harm. It includes planning. By that alone, by virtue of his position… he is included because he did nothing to stop what his personnel were doing.),” he added.

As 22 of the relieved officers were placed under restrictive custody, Tuaño explained that the other 55 were still relieved from their posts but expected to report daily to the PRO BAR headquarters while the investigation is ongoing.

Police investigators received 55 male and one female recruit’s medical certificates so far out of the 129 complainants, according to Tuaño.

“Base din sa medical certificate na natanggap natin, 96 percent ng mga may medical certificate na may hematoma, contusions ay galing sa lower extremities... Four percent lang yung may mga tama sa upper extremities halimbawa sa mukha, sa katawan,” he explained.

He also assured that, despite the relief of the entire RMFB 14-B, security measures in the area remained unaffected since the relieved unit was replaced by the RMFB 14-A.