42 more BARMM police officers charged over alleged hazing of recruits
More police officers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) who were relieved earlier over the alleged hazing of over 100 police recruits in Lamitan City, Basilan, have been charged criminally, bringing the total number to 54.
Twelve members of the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) were initially charged with physical injury before the local prosecutor’s office earlier this week.
In a press briefing on Wednesday at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said that the additional 42 police officers were also included in the case based on the findings of their continuing investigation.
Incriminating video
The 54 police officers are all members of the PRO BAR’s Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 14-B. All 77 members of the police unit were relieved after 129 police recruits accused them of hazing during “welcome rites” held at their headquarters in Barangay Ubit, Lamitan City, Basilan, on Feb. 5.
According to the recruits, they were ordered to duck walk and lie down and roll on the ground and then hit with wooden sticks. A video provided by the PNP Public Information Office (PIO) showed a man believed to be one of the recruits being punched hard in the chest while he was kneeling.
Tuaño identified the police officers who have been charged so far as a colonel (the battalion commander), a major, four captains, seven corporals and 41 patrolmen.
The colonel, major, five corporals and six patrolmen are charged with violating Section 14, Paragraph B of Republic Act No. 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act, according to the PNP.
According to the provision, the planners and organizers of the activity, those who actually participated in the hazing, and former members of the organization who were physically present at the activity may be held liable, said PNP PIO legal officer Captain Mervan Beltejar.
Under the influence?
Beltejar added that the provision also penalizes members of the organization who may not have been physically present at the activity but encouraged the victims to participate, advisers of the organization who were physically present at the activity, and members who were physically present while drunk or high on drugs.
She clarified, however, that it has yet to be established whether any of the officers present at the event was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The police colonel who was the battalion commander attended the activity, according to Tuaño. “He gave verbal instructions on what should be done.”
“When the 129 recruits arrived at the camp, he told them to go to their barracks first and put away their things, including their firearms. Afterward, after they had slept, they were told to go into formation for their welcome rites,” Tuaño said.
On the other hand, the remaining police officers composed of four captains, two corporals, and 35 patrolmen are charged with violating Section 14, Paragraph C of RA 11053, which penalizes all persons who were present during the hazing.
Tuaño said all 54 police officers are now under restrictive custody, while the PRO BAR is considering placing them under preventive suspension.
As for the remaining 23 other members of the battalion, they remain under investigation to determine if they were involved in the hazing incident.
